Lunit shares Hajj involvement

The KSA government and Seha Virtual Hospital (SVH) have deployed the Lunit INSIGHT AI-based chest X-ray analysis solution (CXR) to support large-scale screening during the 2025 Hajj season. 

The Hajj, which ran from June 4–9 in 2025,  is one of the world's largest annual mass gatherings. It draws over 2 million pilgrims from more than 160 countries. During this high-risk period, the Saudi health authorities prioritise early detection of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and MERS. 

With hundreds of thousands of chest X-rays taken over just a few days, Lunit's AI successfully assisted healthcare teams on the ground by automatically analysing chest X-rays to identify abnormalities, helping facilitate rapid triage and timely treatment.

"Managing health risks during Hajj requires speed, scale, and precision. That's exactly where our AI comes in—helping frontline teams detect potential issues faster and more reliably," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit, a provider of AI for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. 

"Being selected again for this initiative reflects the strong trust we've built with Saudi Arabia's healthcare leaders and highlights how AI can make a real difference in the field."

This marks another milestone in Lunit's ongoing collaboration with Seha Virtual Hospital, the world's largest virtual hospital and a central component of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 digital healthcare transformation. Lunit INSIGHT CXR was previously validated and integrated into SVH's national screening programme in 2023, with plans to expand across more than 170 medical sites in the kingdom. 

Red Crescent reports on medical cases served on first two days of Hajj

Source: Centre for Government Communication, KSA.
The KSA Red Crescent Authority responded to 5,000 medical
emergencies during 8 and 9 Dhulhijjah.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority responded to 5,000 emergency cases on Arafat and At-Tarwiyah days in Makkah, Madinah and other holy sites. At-Tarwiyah on 8 Dhulhijjah marks day one of the Hajj, while the day of Arafat is 9 Dhulhijjah.

From 7 to 9 Dhulhijjah 1,739 of the emergency cases were transferred to the nearest hospitals, while 3,228 were treated on-site.

Medical teams in Makkah served 4,316 emergency cases in city, Holy Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram), Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina. More than 1,300 (1,342) cases occurred in Makkah; 982 were in Arafat; 632 in Muzdalifah; more than 862 in Mina, and 250 cases in the Holy Mosque. Medical care was given on-site for 2,846 of the cases while more than 1,470 cases were transferred to hospitals.

Teams in Madinah helped 651 visitors in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's mosque, in Madinah) and along the roads leading to the mosque. Of these, 269 emergency cases were transferred to hospitals and 382 cases were treated on-site.

King Abdullah Medical City sets up hotline for Hajj stroke cases

Source: Centre for Government Communication, KSA.
King Abdullah Medical City.

For the fourth year in a row, King Abdullah Medical City, a specialist hospital, has set up a hotline to match stroke and cases with doctors and specialists in Makkah hospitals in KSA. The hotline also arranges transportation of urgent cases to the Medical City.

The hotlines are up 24x7 during the Hajj period, with alternative direct phone numbers also provided in case the hotline is busy.

The Director of the Medical Coordination, King Abdullah Medical City Rami Al-Sufi has pointed out that the hotline is critical when time is of the essence with treating cerebral strokes.

The 550-bed hospital separately announced that it has conducted more than 100 specialised operations on Hajj pilgrims.

Over 30,000 health personnel on site for Hajj 2018

Source: KSA Center for Government Communication. The
KSA Red Crescent Society has 300 ambulances on the ground.

The KSA Ministry of Health has released more statistics around health services for Hajj 2018.

Dedicated healthcare staff for Hajj 2018 totals 29,495:

• 780 doctors

• 1,248 specialist doctors

• 2,718 general practioners

• 1,428 pharmacists

• 3,533 nurses

• 1,173 laboratory workers

• 198 nutrition specialists

• 5,587 administrative staff

• 1,491 ambulance drivers

• 165 engineers

There are also more than 700 local volunteers under the Community Participation Program, which aims to increase social development through voluntary initiatives according to the KSA Vision 2030.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has separately recruited some 2,631 personnel amongst doctors, specialists, administrators, and technicians in Makkah and Madinah. Sixty-nine ambulance centres will accommodate urgent health cases, along with 300 ambulances, 15 advanced response teams, and 27 medic motorcycles.

There are another 10 emergency centres around major areas, including both airports, nearby sea ports, and along roads leading to Makkah and Madinah.

Explore:

Read the Suroor Asia blog post on the Ministry of Health's previous updates

Madinah Cardiac Center updates heart catheterisation activity for Hajj 2018

Madinah Cardiac Center​ has conducted 49 coronary catheterisations for Hajj pilgrims since the beginning of the Hajj season, the KSA Ministry of Health has announced.

The centre received more than 86 cases and 49 of them were referred to the catheterisation lab. Two cases had open heart-surgery, and most of the cases were treated as emergencies.

According to Madinah Health Affairs, 14 patients have been discharged while the remaining are under observation to ensure that they are healthy to perform Hajj with ease and comfort. The organisation has prepared 11 hospitals for this year's Hajj: Al-Ansar, Uhod, Al-Miqat, King Fahad, Maternity and Children, Pilgrim City (thoracic), Medical Rehabilitation, Khaybar, Al-Hanakiyah, Al-Hemnah and the Cardiac Center. Other hospitals are also ready to handle any emergencies. 

Madinah's hospitals offer 1,682 beds including 114 for intensive care. The hospitals are supported by 13 seasonal primary healthcare centres enhanced with specialised medical staff and cutting-edge appliances: Air Pilgrims, Gabriel Gate, Al-Miqat 1-2, Al-Majedi Gate, Land Pilgrims, Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Airport-Madinah, Al-Safyah, Al-Salam, Yanbu Sea Port, Yanbu Airport, Al-Yutamah and Al-Selselah. Three other centres, Quba, Al-Awali and Uhod are tasked with permanent primary healthcare services.

المضاد الحيوي سلاح ذو حدين لا يؤخذ إلا بوصفة طبية.#جائزة_وعي pic.twitter.com/U4bKeWwHgi

— وزارة الصحة السعودية (@SaudiMOH) August 8, 2018

The Ministry of Health has separately shared an infographic in Arabic on Twitter highlighting the importance of keeping cardiac patients stable, ensuring that they have enuogh medication, store it safely and carry their medical cards.

Hashtag: #حج_بصحة

Arcapita, Mumtalakat acquire NAS United Healthcare Services

- NAS is a GCC provider of outsourced health insurance processing services

- Most GCC governments have either implemented mandatory healthcare insurance coverage or plan to launch initiatives in the next two to three years

Arcapita, the global alternative investment firm, and Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain, have partnered to acquire an approximately 90% stake in NAS United Healthcare Services (NAS), a leading GCC provider of outsourced health insurance processing services.

Established in 2002 in Abu Dhabi, NAS is a regional leader in the provision of third-party administrator (TPA) services to more than 40 health insurance and takaful companies in the Arabian Gulf (GCC) region. NAS provides its customers a comprehensive network of more than 7,200 healthcare providers across the GCC region, the Middle East and India, as well as a complete suite of outsourcing and state-of-the art IT solutions in the field of healthcare benefits administration. 

NAS services a pool of more than 500,000 insured members and processes in excess of 3 million medical claims per year. The market for outsourced medical claims management in the GCC region is expected to grow significantly as more countries are expected to introduce compulsory health insurance for their expatriate populations as well as higher healthcare spending resulting from the general improvement in the quality of healthcare treatments available in the region.

Atif A. Abdulmalik, Arcapita's CEO said, "The global wellness and healthcare sectors are core focus areas for us; Arcapita's management has made a number of successful investments in these sectors in the past. NAS is a regional market leader with a strong technology backbone and highly scalable business model. The company is well-positioned to take advantage of the growth in the market for outsourced medical claims management in the GCC region. The demand for quality services such as those provided by NAS is expected to grow in line with the growth of the healthcare insurance market in the GCC region. We are pleased to collaborate with Mumtalakat and look forward to growing NAS together."

Mahmood Hashem Alkooheji, Mumtalakat's CEO, added, "Global population trends indicate the importance of increased healthcare solutions and by extension, health insurance services. In fact, between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population aged over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22% and global annual healthcare spending is projected to rise at a rate of 6% per year, reaching US$10 trillion by 2020. 

"As a result, the majority of GCC governments have either implemented mandatory healthcare insurance coverage or plan to launch initiatives in the coming two to three years. For example, the government of Bahrain is working on rolling-out a new mandatory health insurance law for Bahrainis and expatriates in the next one to two years. We believe NAS has significant potential to expand into regional countries and secure large contracts and we are delighted to partner with Arcapita to invest in NAS."

This joint investment between Mumtalakat and Arcapita is in line with Mumtalakat's financial services and healthcare investment strategies. With a growing global demand for healthcare services, rising health insurance penetration and an ageing global population, this acquisition represents an important investment designed to support a reduction in personal healthcare costs and support universal health coverage, both of which are in line with the United Nations' Global Development Agenda.

Arcapita is a global shari'ah-compliant alternative investment manager, with offices in Bahrain and Singapore. Arcapita's principal lines of business are private equity and real estate, and its management has a 19-year track record of over 70 investments with total transaction value in excess of US$30 billion.

Medical team from Bahrain on standby in Makkah

Bahrain has deployed a dedicated medical team to serve pilgrims during the Hajj season for 2017, the Bahrain News Agency has reported.

Bahrain Haj Medical Committee Chairman Dr Ibrahim Obaid was cited as stressing the readiness of the Makkah, KSA-based delegation. “The 32-strong medical team is sparing no efforts to serve pilgrims, working as one team round the clock,” he stated in the report.

MoH in KSA has all in readiness to support Hajj pilgrims

The Ministry of Health (MoH) in KSA has further intensified its preparations and efforts to develop and equip its health facilities, and to ensure their readiness to provide healthcare services to pilgrims during the Hajj 2017 season, from their arrival to KSA via air, sea and land, through the rituals, and up to their safe return home. More than 29,000 health practitioners - including various medical, technical and administrative groups - have been commissioned to serve the pilgrims.

MoH has taken several precautionary measures, including developing health regulations to be met by all individuals preparing for the Hajj – based on global epidemiological variables, and circulating them to all Saudi embassies and consulates to be shared when issuing Hajj and umrah visas. MOH has also activated health control centres at pilgrims’ land, air and sea access points to provide preventive, therapeutic and ambulatory (outpatient) services. These centres have been enhanced with the necessary manpower and medical supplies (vaccines, preventive drugs, and much more), to operate 24x7 during this year’s Hajj season, the MoH said.

MoH has also launched campaigns to vaccinate the residents of Makkah and Madinah, as well as all individuals involved in Hajj against meningitis and seasonal influenza.

Hospitals and healthcare centres in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites have been prepared. Twenty-five hospitals have geared up (four in Arafat, four in Mina, seven in Makkah, nine in Madinah, as well as King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah), with 5,000 inpatient beds, including 500 for ICU and 550 for emergency use), in addition to the Holy Mosque’s hospital in Makkah for emergency cases.

These hospitals are supplemented with 155 permanent and seasonal health centres across Hajj sites, including 43 health centres in Makkah, 78 in the holy sites, (46 in Arafat, six at the Muzdalifah walkway, plus 26 in Mina), 18 in Madinah, 16 on the Jamarat Bridge, as well as three advanced ambulatory centres around the Holy Mosque in Makkah. Eighteen medical points will operate on both sides of the train stations.

MoH has also prepared several facilities in Makkah, the holy sites and Madinah to treat heat stress and sunstroke cases, by securing proper ventilation using fans which spray chilled water, and increasing the number of beds in the holy sites' hospitals dedicated to heat stress and sunstroke cases.

The MoH Safe Surgery Saves Lives (SSSL) programme, featuring free specialised healthcare services, including open-heart surgeries, cardiac catheterisation, kidney blood and peritoneal dialysis, alimentary endoscopy, obstetrical cases, in addition to other specialised services needed by pilgrim patients.

For field medicine and emergencies during Hajj, MoH has prepared a fleet of 100 small ambulances as mobile intensive care units, to handle field ambulatory emergencies, in addition to highly equipped, larger ambulances.

Internal medicine doctors needed for Hajj 2017 support

The KSA Ministry of Health (MOH) Hajj Visiting Manpower Committee has vacanies for temporary internal medicine physicians for the Hajj season 2017 (1438) in the following regions:

Madinah

From 20/11/1438 to 05/12/1438, 12 working hours daily
From 13/12/1438 to 29/12/1438, 12 working hours daily

Holy sites

From 6/12/1438 to 15/12/1438, 12 working hours daily

Interested?

Estimate the Hijri date. The 12th month of 1438, Dhulhijjah (ذو الحجة), is expected to begin around 23 August 2017, and the Hajj will occur from 8 to 12 Dhulhijjah.

Contact the Committee at tusalghamdi at moh.gov.sa with attached documents

Priority is given to early applicants, and those not already registered as manpower for the Hajj 2017. Vacancies are limited

IDB is committed to improving Iraqi lives

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group has announced it will work with Iraq’s government to develop tangible plans to advance the country. “IDB wants to see the country’s economic growth back on track, decreasing its dependence on oil, focusing on agriculture and industry, and tackling unemployment,” said Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, IDB President.

Dr Ali said the IDB, the World Bank and the United Nations have agreed to work together to boost Iraq’s capabilities. “Iraq needs support, using tools of modern development management, to achieve sustainable economic growth,” he said. “We will provide targeted expertise to help the country rebuild a resourceful economy in harmony with the global Sustainable Developments Goals.” This will also help bridge cooperation with neighbouring countries, he added.

Dr. Ali affirmed IDB’s commitment to help Iraq build strong partnerships with member countries based on investment and the full use of Islamic finance. He noted that IDB, in collaboration with the Arab Coordination Group, the United Nations, the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the British Ministry for International Development, are working to increase their development assistance to Iraqi citizens. The assistance includes funding for basic services such as water and sanitation, power generation, education and health.

To date, IDB has funded Iraq’s development with US$551 million, covering infrastructure, basic services and trade finance. Dr Ali and the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Mohsen Ismail, who is also IDB Governor for Iraq, also signed a US$300,000 grant agreement for launching mobile clinics to provide primary healthcare services in the country’s rural areas.

Philips Mobile Obstetrics Monitoring service to be commercially implemented in West Sumatra

Source: Royal Philips.

Royal Philips has announced an agreement with the Sijunjung Regency in West Sumatra, Indonesia, for the full-scale commercial implementation - Philips’ first globally - of its Mobile Obstetrics Monitoring (MOM) service in the region.

This scalable smartphone-based digital health service is designed to identify mothers-to-be who are at high risk of pregnancy-related complications and help reduce maternal mortality rates. Expanding mobile monitoring coverage, it addresses both rural and urban needs. Philips works with PT Telkom, the largest telecommunication provider in Indonesia with a nationwide connectivity infrastructure, to ensure a robust and effective digital solution. The MOM telehealth service is planned to be introduced in other regions in Indonesia, India and Africa later this year.

The obstetrics monitoring solution enables midwives in remote locations to share vital measurements, observational data and mobile ultrasound images with obstetricians and gynecologists in the country’s larger hospitals and collaborate with them for improved decision making during pregnancy.  The service features two mobile phone apps. The first allows midwives to collect vital measurement data - e.g. weight, blood pressure, temperature - and sync it to the MOM web portal. The second lets doctors track this data and review a woman’s progress. Specialists at regional primary care centres can also access the data via a MOM web portal to monitor women’s conditions and identify high-risk pregnancies via a dashboard interface. Training and education are also provided as part of the service. 

“Indonesia, with 255 million people living on more than 900 islands, still struggles with one of the highest rates*  of maternal death in the world partly due to the lack of access to healthcare services,” said Jeroen Tas, CEO Healthcare Informatics, Solutions and Services at Philips. “With the roll-out of our mobile obstetrics monitoring solution in West Sumatra we are helping to give people access to skilled healthcare personnel and the right technology at the right time. It’s a clear example of how digital technologies can facilitate preventative care and have a tremendous impact on the quality of care.”

In a one-year pilot project in collaboration with the Bunda Medical Center in Padang, Indonesia that was announced earlier, Philips' Mobile Obstetrics Monitoring solution increased the early detection of high-risk pregnancies threefold and helped expectant mothers to receive the medical monitoring and treatment they needed for a safe delivery. The pilot had over 650 pregnancies within the programme. Not a single woman died from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth through early monitoring and risk stratification.

“We are excited that West Sumatra is the first district in Indonesia to implement Mobile Obstetrics Monitoring,” said Health District Head Dr Edwin Suprayogi. “It is a challenge for many mothers in this district to travel from their home to the closest clinic, which means that high risk pregnancies are often not detected at an early stage. With the MOM programme, we aim to identify these women much faster so that they get access to the care they need. At the same time, the programme will also help us to track the effectiveness of individual healthcare workers so that we can improve their skills and further improve the quality of healthcare.”

The Mobile Obstetrics Monitoring solution is part of Philips’ strategy of providing connected care solutions that span locations and enable more people-focused integrated care, customised to address the local needs. 

Interested?

Download the Philips white paper Mobile Obstetrics Monitoring (MOM) as a model for community-based antenatal care delivery in a low-resource setting

Read the TechTrade Asia blog posts on Frost & Sullivan's recognition of Philips for MOM and Philips' connected lamp, a collaboration with Xiaomi

*World Health Organization (WHO) data on maternal death shows Indonesia recording 190 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013, the third lowest results among ASEAN member states, despite Indonesia being the largest ASEAN economy. Specifically in West Sumatra, the maternal mortality rate is as high as 212 deaths per 100,000 live births, based on a survey by Andalas University in 2008 and published in the Health Ministry’s 2012 West Sumatra Health Profile. 

Intel backs modernisation at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) provides advanced specialised care to patients in Saudi Arabia. With facilities in Riyadh and Jeddah, plus a children’s cancer centre, KFSHRC provides care for the most seriously ill patients from anywhere in the country. Along with delivering advanced treatments, the centre conducts leading-edge research and helps train the next generation of physicians, nurses and other clinicians.

With demands on its healthcare system rising rapidly, KFSHRC is using Intel-based servers, storage, network adapters, and end user computers to modernise its IT infrastructure and prepare for the future in a reliable, cost-effective way. The centre is migrating much of its data centre infrastructure to servers and storage systems based on the Intel Xeon processor E5 family. KFSHRC is also adopting 2 in 1 devices with the Intel Core i5 vPro processor for clinicians on the go.

The strategy brings many benefits. These include:

More coordinated, patient-centred care. Powerful healthcare IT solutions and mobile computing can empower treatment teams to provide more coordinated care before, during, and after the patient’s hospital stay.

Higher patient satisfaction and engagement. Patients and their families can experience shorter wait times, greater convenience, and fewer redundant procedures. Tools such as portals can help engage patients in managing their own health. On 19 October, KSFHRC launched the Sehaty app, which enables users to access their healthcare records from a mobile device. The app manages appointments, offers recent updates to health records and accepts requests for prescription renewals among other features.

Improved productivity, hiring, and retention. Healthcare IT solutions can help medical professionals work more productively and reduce stress. Healthcare IT modernisation helps KSFHRC attract and retain doctors, nurses, and other clinicians.

Leaders at KFSHRC say Intel technologies are helping at the micro level to reduce costs, optimise floorspace, and enhance disaster recovery. Their virtualised infrastructure also helps the hospital deliver a better patient experience, enhance productivity, and increase access to high-quality, coordinated care throughout the kingdom. In addition the PCs and mobile devices powered by Intel help enhance productivity.

posted from Bloggeroid

KSA's MOH calls for vaccination of senior officials

KSA's Ministry of Health (MOH) has led a drive to vaccinate senior officials against meningitis and flu ahead of the Hajj season.

The initiative, led by His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Health for Therapeutic Services, Dr. Tarif Al-‘Ama, saw senior officials take anti-meningitis and anti-flu vaccines in early September. Dr Tarif called upon all MOH employees participating in the Hajj season to be vaccinated to prevent against disease. He also said that the vaccines are available and safe.

Those who have been vaccinated include the Assistant Deputy Minister for Hospitals Affairs, Dr Nahar Al-‘Azmi, the Supervisor General of Home Medicine, Dr Ali Maqboul Al-Ghamdi, the Director General of Specialized Centers and Visiting Physicians, Dr Abdullah Al-Wad‘i, and the Director General of Radiology and Applied Services, Dr Ali Al-Musned.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog posts about the MOH's preparations for the Hajj here and here

Ministry of External Affairs, India outlines steps to ensure well-being of Hajj pilgrims

India's Ministry of External Affairs and the Haj Committee of India have announced that Hajj 2015 commenced on 16 August 2015 and is proceeding smoothly. A total number of 136,020 pilgrims are expected to take part in Haj 2015, of which 100,020 will be participating through the Haj Committee of India and remaining 36,000 via private tour operators.

The organisations have also reported 21 deaths as of 3 September, of which 20 have been due to natural causes and one due to a road accident. Nineteen of the deaths were attributed to cardiac arrest and one due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure. Four in ten of the deceased pilgrims are above 60 years of age.

The Ministry of External Affairs remains committed to the welfare and well-being of Haj pilgrims and is doing its utmost to ensure their well-being. The Ministry of External Affairs and Consulate General of India have taken several steps to provide good medical facilities free of charge for Hajj pilgrims, including a 40-bed hospital in Makkah, a 40-bed hospital in Azizia and a 10-bed hospital in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. There are also 13 branch dispensaries in Makkah and five branch dispensaries in Madinah which are all located close to the pilgrims’ accommodation and open round-the-clock. The Ministry of External Affairs has also dispatched medicines and medical equipment worth Rs. 2 crores for use in these hospitals and dispensaries, which is provided free of cost to Hajj pilgrims. The Government has already deployed 134 doctors and 145 paramedics to provide specialised medical care. Steps are also taken to facilitate treatment in case of emergencies and also to arrange evacuation to India, if necessary. 

Deaths due to natural causes are a normal occurrence during the Hajj pilgrimage. During the Hajj pilgrimage from 2009 to 2012 there were 250 to 300 deaths annually due to natural causes. The numbers declined to 177 deaths at Hajj 2013 and 152 deaths for Hajj 2014 due to better treatment for pilgrims in the high risk group and also a 20% reduction in the overall quota for India. The fact that a very large number of pilgrims are above 60 and 70 years of age and are already facing several medical problems is the main reason for these deaths.

Hamad Medical Corporation announces Eid hours for its facilities in Qatar

Hamad Medical Corporation has announced operating hours for its hospitals during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays as follows, the Qatar News Agency has reported:

Hamad General Hospital’s (HGH) Outpatient Department (OPD) clinics and pharmacy will be closed from 16 to 20 July and will reopen on 21 July. 

Patients already booked for some clinics will be contacted individually to confirm their appointments, and those clinics will operate from 7 am to 3 pm. The OPD pharmacy will be open when any of the clinics are open. The laboratory, radiology, and other diagnostics services will have coverage daily. The HGH’s Medical Records Department will remain open 24x7.

Al Wakra Hospital’s (AWH's) outpatient clinics and pharmacy (including the women’s pharmacy) will be closed on 16 to 19 July. Some outpatient clinics (morning and evening) will resume on 20 to 23 July from 7 am to 3 pm. The hospital’s main outpatient pharmacy will be open from 20 to 23 July from 7 am to 3 pm. Normal operations resume on 26 July.

AWH’s Emergency Department will remain open. The labor room, neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric intensive care unit will continue to operate fully while the Pediatric outpatient department (OPD) will tentatively open from 20 to 23 July. The Obstetrics/Gynecology OPD will be open on 22 and 23 July while its emergency section will run as usual. Operating theaters will be available for emergency elective surgeries after the Eid holidays.

The Women’s Hospital’s OPD clinics will operate from 9 am to 1 pm from 19 to 23 July. The hospital’s pharmacy will operate as usual 24 hours throughout the holidays.

The Cuban Hospital’s (TCH) OPD clinics and pharmacy will be closed from 16 to 19 July and will reopen on 20 July. Patients booked for selected outpatient clinics will be contacted individually to confirm their appointments. The OPD pharmacy will be open when any clinics are open.

TCH’s Emergency Department including the pharmacy will remain open 24x7 including for the dispensing of urgent prescription refills. After hours only emergency dental work and temporary fillings will be handled. Operating theaters will be available for emergency cases over the holidays.

Al Khor Hospital’s OPD clinics will be closed throughout the Eid break. The Accident and Emergency Department Pharmacy will be open 24 hours. All urgent cases, including medications refill, during this period should proceed directly to the Emergency units.

Heart Hospital’s OPD will be closed from 17 to 25 July. It will resume operations on 26 July from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm. However, The OPD will operate two consultation clinics and one warfarin clinic on 22 and 23 July.

At Rumailah Hospital, the Dermatology Clinic will open only on 19 and 20 July from 9 am to 12 noon. The Communicable Diseases clinics will operate throughout the break every Sunday to Thursday from 7 am to 3 pm. The Dentistry Clinic will be open only on 21, 22 and 23 July from 8 am to 2 pm.

The Psychiatry Department’s OPD clinics will be closed throughout the Eid break. The clinics will resume on 20 to 23 July from 7 am to 3 pm. The Community Mental Health Services adult outreach will operate as usual from 7 am to 3 pm and old age outreach services will function as usual.

Most of the services in the National Center for Cancer Care and Research will run as usual during the Eid holidays. The Day Care Unit will be closed on 18 and 19 July while the OPD will be closed on 19 and 20 July. The Urgent Care Unit will operate 24x7.

The Referral and Booking Management System and the Hamad Patient Contact Center will continue to remind patients of appointments by phone and text message.