Hospital’s closure leaves 4,000 AIDS patients in the lurch

The fate of about 4,000 AIDS patients hangs in the balance as a result of a decision taken by the Jeddah Health Affairs Department that King Saud Hospital will be closed within a few weeks.
The patients’ files have not been transferred, recorded or even electronically filed, according to sources quoted by a local newspaper.
The sources confirmed that some AIDS patients are still in the hospital despite the impending closure. Deportation procedures are being arranged for non-Saudi patients.
The King Saud Hospital earlier requested all the government hospitals in Jeddah to take the patients and follow up on their treatment. However, the hospitals have reportedly apologized for lack of capabilities and specialized isolations rooms.
The hospital administration asked for postponing the transfer of hospital staff so that patients can continue to remain under treatment.
The question being posed as why the Health Affairs Department has not yet produced a mechanism to follow up on the health of the AIDS patients, as also how new AIDS cases will be dealt with, the sources said.
The sources also noted that the patients who will be deported will need to be in isolation since their health conditions might endanger the lives of others.
Ahmad Faden, assistant director of Health Affairs who is supervising the closure of the hospital, said the closure would be permanent. He said four technical and administrative committees had been formed to complete the procedures for the closure and moving both patients and staff.
“The committees have already helped transfer the Saudi patients to a hospital east of Jeddah. The staff, including doctors, technicians, administrators and others, were sent to other hospitals and medical centers according to their needs,” he said.
Faden confirmed that only non-Saudis were left and some of them have security issues with the authorities. Others are waiting the completion of their deportation papers and their return to their countries.
“Some medical cadres and staff stayed in the hospital to provide the medical and treatment services for patients until they all leave the country,” he said.