المملكة: D. Talal Al-Maliki in an interview with "today": 300,000 health practitioners and 40,000 beds to ensure a safe Hajj

The CEO of the Taif Health Cluster, Dr. Talal Al-Maliki, revealed the features of the major qualitative shift witnessed by the health sector in the Kingdom coinciding with Hajj season.

He stressed that the establishment of the “Health Holding Company” and the integration of the five health clusters in the western region brought about a radical change in the methodology of care provided to

Traditional management through the directorates to the integrated “health clusters” system, where the efforts of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Medina, Jeddah, and Taif clusters combine to weave a unified care network, supported by logistical and human support from 15 health clusters distributed across various regions of the Kingdom, which raised the efficiency of performance and speed of response to emergency cases to record levels..

The CEO reviewed the expansion plan in “Field medicine” for this season, which depends on deploying urgent surgical intervention teams in the field, and applying the “mobile doctor” model, which carries integrated ambulance equipment in the middle of crowds to treat cases immediately, which is a strategy that has proven effective in reducing complications and relieving pressure on referral hospitals. To the text of the dialogue:

Let us start from the most prominent strategic transformation.. How did the establishment of the “Health Holding Company” change the equation of health service provided to the guests of God?

This is the cornerstone of the change we are experiencing. In the past, services were managed in a traditional and centralized manner across health affairs directorates, relying mainly on fixed hospitals in Mecca and Al-Mashaer. Today, the scene is radically different; With the establishment of the “Seha Holding Company” and the activation of its executive arms, we moved to the concept of “integration”.

We are now talking about a unified system that includes five health clusters in the western region (Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, and Taif), operating as one body, and receiving logistical and human support from 15 health clusters distributed throughout the rest of the regions of the Kingdom. This new model increased performance efficiency and accelerated response to emergency situations in a way we had never seen before.

The language of numbers is always the most accurate in measuring the size of preparations.. Can you put the reader in a picture of the capabilities observed for this season?

We are talking about an integrated health army working under the umbrella of the holding company to ensure maximum readiness. The numbers here reflect the enormity of the responsibility: We have more than 300,000 health practitioners and administrators, supported by a fleet of more than 2,000 ambulances, and a capacity of more than 40,000 beds, in addition to a wide network of primary care centers of more than 2,000 centers. These capabilities do not only operate during the days of Hajj, but are in a state of readiness throughout the year to serve pilgrims And the pilgrims.

Observers described the last Hajj season as “the most successful” in decades.. In your opinion, what is the “recipe” that led to this distinction?

I completely agree with this description, as last year’s season was indeed one of The best seasons during the past 50 years, according to everyone at home and abroad.

The secret lies in “harmony and integration.” Health did not work in isolation. Rather, there was an effective and real partnership between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Public Security, and Transport. This harmony produced an application model for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which places the “beneficiary’s experience” and comfort above all else. Last season’s success was not the end, but rather it is the foundation upon which we will build this year’s successes, God willing.

In light of this success…what new does this season hold up its sleeve? What are the most prominent features of development?

The title of this season is “Reaching the pilgrim wherever he is.” We will witness a significant expansion in coordination between the five communities in the western region to cover all points: Arafat, Mina, Muzdalifah, the residences in Mecca, Medina, and even the roads linking them. The most notable development is the increasing reliance on “virtual medicine.”

We have gone beyond the stage of waiting for a patient to come to us; We reach it technically.

We have an inspiring story from last year of a young man who suffered from angina pectoris, and thanks to precise virtual medical monitoring, we were able to follow his condition in real time and he was able to complete his rituals safely without the need to transport him and remove him from his emotions.

“Field medicine” is considered the first line of defense.. Will we see new medical technologies or tactics in the field this year?

Absolutely. The plan this year relies on a strategy of attack instead of defense, by deploying “urgent surgical intervention” teams directly in the field, and strengthening rapid detection points in concentration locations.

We also focus intensely on the preventive aspect, specifically with regard to dealing with heat stress and sunstroke. Last year, thanks to awareness and early intervention, we succeeded in reducing thermal injuries from thousands to hundreds only, and this is an indicator that we will work to strengthen strongly.

You mentioned the term “mobile doctor” as one of the success experiences.. Will it continue to be used?

Yes, and on a broader scale, the “mobile doctor” experience has proven amazing effectiveness in reducing time and saving lives. The idea is simply to have a doctor equipped with an integrated ambulance kit who goes into the crowd, takes care of cases immediately, provides first aid, and then decides whether the case requires transportation via mobile teams. This strategy greatly reduced pressure on hospitals and reduced health complications for pilgrims.

How do you ensure coverage of these vast geographical areas and pilgrim crossings?

We have a precise deployment plan that operates on two levels:
The first: Advanced hospitals equipped for major and complex operations such as open-heart surgeries and catheterization.
The second: A network of fixed and mobile medical centers that extends like a health belt from Taif and Raniyah all the way to Mecca, Medina, and Mashaer. Let us not forget proactive monitoring. We monitor the pilgrim from the moment of his arrival, as the buses pass through health follow-up routes that begin before the meeqat, to ensure that the passengers are free of epidemics or to monitor any unstable chronic conditions before they reach their residences.

At the conclusion of this dialogue… What is the criterion by which you measure the success of the health season?

We have strict and precise performance indicators that we do not deviate from, and they are summarized in four axes:

Achieving the highest levels of comfort for the beneficiary and improving his experience from entry to departure.
Health security represented in preventing the spread of epidemics and endemic diseases.
Reducing death rates to the lowest level, especially among risk groups and the elderly.
Reducing Operational pressure on hospitals and morgues. These indicators witnessed positive jumps last year, and we are determined – with God’s grace – to achieve new records this year.

A final word to the guests of God and the working cadres?

Our message is clear: serving the pilgrim is an unparalleled honor, and a great national and religious responsibility.
We in the health centers, with the support of our wise leadership, continue to harness all capabilities to raise the quality of services, to reflect the honorable image of the Kingdom and its historical role in caring for the guests of God.