MAKKAH, June 25 — Visitors to Syisyah Treatment Centre, operated by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), will be surprised to see all the medical equipment provided at the hospital because from the outside, the building where the hospital is located looks modest as any other premises there.
The hospital has its own wards and specialists in various fields as well as 18 ambulances.
Makkah Medical Operations director Dr Mohamad Nazarudin Bahari said doctors at Saudi hospitals in Makkah and Madinah would accept the analysis and observation reports made by Malaysian medical officers without hesitation, adding that this would allow patients to receive immediate treatment and facilitate monitoring by TH medical officers.
“The Syisyah Treatment Centre and other health clinics (operated by TH) which are located at the pilgrims’ accommodation are always making improvements from time to time,” he said.
He said there were only two specialists when he first arrived in Makkah in 2012 and the number increased the following year.
“We currently have 24 specialists. There are many other specialist doctors here but they have the status of medical officers,” he told reporters.
According to him, the Saudi Ministry of Health has expressed admiration for Malaysia’s ability and compliance with standards in the medical field.
Dr Mohamad Nazarudin said TH required doctors to submit their certificates before they were allowed to participate in the haj operation.
“Compared to other countries, TH does provide the best service in many ways. At one time, I was with the emergency team for an ambulance inspection conducted by Jeddah Red Crescent.
“The inspection team spoke highly of the Malaysian medical team and expressed their trust in the team,” he said, adding that all 18 ambulances belonging to Syishah Treatment Centre complied with their requirements and passed the inspection without fuss.
Dr Mohamad Nazarudin said the routine inspection of the Malaysian ambulances would only take about one and a half hours.
Meanwhile, the TH medical team was commended during a staff gathering with the Malaysian Haj Delegation chief Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman for obtaining an operating permit from the Saudi Ministry of Health.
TH treatment centre for the Madinah sector has been recognised as the first medical operation centre to receive the permit from the Saudi government while the Syisyah Treatment Centre and the emergency centre set up at Abraj Al Janadriah became the first and second medical centres to receive the permit to operate in Makkah.
Syed Saleh noted that the TH medical team has proven Malaysia’s capability not only in providing quality healthcare services but also managed to set records at the international level.
Treatment centres in Madinah and Makkah have a total of 254 staff members including 28 specialists, 35 medical officers and 158 support staff such as nurses and physiotherapists.
— Bernama
