By SAEED AL-KHOTANI | ARAB NEWS
Published: Nov 18, 2010 23:48 Updated: Nov 18, 2010 23:48
MINA: The Kingdom is to cooperate with Turkey in matters relating to healthcare, including the manufacturing of blood plasma, said Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
The health minister made the announcement after meeting Professor Rajab Akdagh, the Turkish minister of health, at the Mina Emergency Hospital on Wednesday.
“We will also cooperate with the Turkish Ministry of Health in exchanging expertise in mass gathering management, particularly in information technology relating to Haj,” said Al-Rabeeah. “Furthermore, we will receive Turkish physicians to work along with their Saudi counterparts in providing health care to pilgrims and sharing experience,” he added.
Al-Rabeeah also took his Turkish counterpart on a tour of the Haj Healthcare Operation and Control Center from where all health-care facilities in Makkah and the holy sites are managed. Following a presentation on the center, Akdagh asked Al-Rabeeah to allow a team of Turkish experts to observe it. Al-Rabbeah accepted the request saying it would be a pleasure.
Akdagh also commended the successful way the Kingdom manages such a large number of pilgrims every year, providing them with multiple types of services, especially in health care.
Seventy thousand Turkish pilgrims performed Haj this year.