Deputy Minister of Health for Planning and Development Mohammad Kusheim tours an exhibit on the sidelines of the 10th GCC Nursing Conference, which he inaugurated in Jeddah, Saturday. — SG photo

Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Deputy Minister of Health for Planning and Development Mohammad Kusheim has said government hospitals have succeeded in Saudizing 99 percent of male nurses and 68 percent of female nurses. Kusheim said he believes the number of Saudi nurses in government hospitals will only continue to increase.



“We do not want to employ Saudis unless they are trained professionally,” he said while explaining that the government will only employ nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree.



On Saturday, Kusheim announced that a specialized nursing center would be established in an 8,000 sq. meter facility in Riyadh to train nurses. The Ministry of Health also announced that it would establish 100 health projects that include hospitals and health centers in all regions of the Kingdom.



Kusheim said the Kingdom’s long-term strategy includes establishing 2,650 medical centers in all regions by 2017.



Regarding complaints from nurses who are sent to remote areas instead of large cities, Khusheim said, “Job applications are processed by the Ministry of Civil Service and an applicant is expected to fill existing vacancies and not the vice versa. Jobs are available but many nurses do not accept them.”



Khusheim made the remarks on the sidelines of the 10th GCC Nursing Seminar being held in Jeddah. The seminar is organized by the Ministry of Health under the title “Highlighting GCC nursing experiences to plan strategies for catastrophes and emergencies.”



The three-day event is being held under the support of Mishaal Bin Majed, Jeddah governor.