Ministry of Defense Health Services System Ready to Provide Health Care for Pilgrims

Makkah: The Ministry of Defense's Health Services announced the readiness of its fixed and field hospitals, as well as ambulance centres in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites, to support the Ministry of Health in providing healthcare and medical services to the pilgrims. This is to ensure that pilgrims perform their rituals with the highest levels of health and safety. The Ministry of Defense's Health Services prepared a comprehensive mission consisting of 1,666 medical, administrative, and technical personnel and 23 health units equipped with the latest specifications and standards. These include ten hospitals, nine primary clinics, and four ambulance centres, each with a capacity of approximately 900 beds. The units include departments for inpatient care and emergency surgeries with six operating rooms. Moreover, there are units for heatstroke and heat exhaustion, a renal dialysis unit, intensive care, laboratories, isolation wards, diagnostic radiology, health education, pharmaceutical services, and u nits for treatment and decontamination from chemical, biological, and radiation hazards. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense's Health Services has prepared 30 rapid response teams for emergencies and disasters, equipped with 43 ambulances and buses in coordination with the General Directorate of Civil Defense if needed. They have also provided five medical evacuation aircraft equipped with the latest technologies and capabilities to provide medical services, support, and transfer cases from the holy sites to supporting healthcare facilities. In the same regard, the seasonal medical centre affiliated with Prince Sultan Armed Forces Hospital in Madinah is participating for the third consecutive year in the western area of the Prophet's Mosque, with a comprehensive mission involving 200 medical, health, administrative, and technical staff of both genders. These services include 23 medical tents and two medical caravans with a capacity of 19 beds distributed across three zones: the medical zone, the support ing medical zone, and the auxiliary services zone. Source: Saudi Press Agency