A Jeddah hospital where the eight-year-old son of a prominent businessman died during an operation on Nov. 15 last year will reopen soon, according to sources.
The Dr. Erfan and Bagedo Hospital was closed by the Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah two months ago. The reopening comes after the Administrative Court in Jeddah ordered that the hospital should be allowed to operate.
The fatal mistake was one of a series of errors reported at the hospital. The Ministry of Health had said that the hospital would remain closed "until it regulates its medical and technical functions in accordance with medical standards." Ministry of Health spokesman Khaled Al-Merghalani said yesterday that no precise information was available with regard to the opening of the hospital. "The decision to reopen the hospital will be made only after an official committee of the ministry ensures the safety of all departments in the hospital and their suitability to receive patients," Al-Merghalani said.
It was reported that the ministry received a report from the hospital administration that it had rectified all the 13 technical and administrative flaws uncovered by an official committee. The problems were mostly about hospital workers, safety and security arrangements and specifications of the Civil Defense.
According to some media reports, the health minister ordered the reopening of the hospital after receiving a report from a committee that reviewed the conditions at the hospital after it was given time to sort out its problems. Another committee had reported earlier that conditions at the hospital caused the medical errors.
He said doctors and workers were jubilant when they heard the news.
Ibrahim Naffee - Arab News
