Global Arab Network | Saudi: Swine flu patients to be treated at state expense

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Saudi: Swine flu patients to be treated at state expense

Global Arab Network - - Hannan Taha

Friday, 14 August 2009 16:32

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has instructed all Saudi public and private hospitals and clinics to treat swine flu suspects and patients at the expense of the government.

In a statement issued by SPA, the Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabea said that in view of the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, which witnesses the rush of worshippers from all over the Islamic countries and communities to Saudi Arabia, the King has ordered that necessary health care should be provided for all H1N1A patients at the expense of the government.

In Palestine, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported 12 new swine flu cases in the West Bank on Friday.

Director General of Basic Health Care and spokesman for the campaign for combating swine flu, Dr. Asaad Al-Ramlawi, said in a press release that the cases were reported in Jerusalem and Ramallah.

The infectees are children and elderly, all of whom have come in contact with infectees that recently returned from Umrah (smaller pilgrimage) in Makkah, he explained.

He noted that USD8 million had been set aside by the ministry for purchasing vaccines, adding that talks were ongoing with three international pharmaceutical companies to secure this.

In Lebanon, the total number of A/H1N1 infectees in Lebanon stands at 476 cases, of which 316 were reported since the beginning of this month, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

In a press release, the ministry said that most of the infectees were youth and children.
It called on doctors to rely on clinical diagnosis and to request lab tests only when necessary, adding that the number of infectees admitted to hospital only would be announced from now on. (SPA, KUNA)

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