Hafr Al-Batin Health Affairs has inaugurated a counseling and voluntary screening clinic at Al-Qaisumah Hospital. The clinic provides health advices for safer behaviors, conducts voluntary screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in general and HIV/AIDS in particular and provides necessary services for detected cases.
According to the Affairs, the clinic aims to provide healthcare services, including early detection of HIV cases, to advise patients on the right treatment methods, to contribute to modifying their unhealthy behaviors, as well as referring them to social, mental and religious support bodies. Furthermore, the clinic guarantees complete confidentiality, with either private examination or in the presence of husband or wife.
The clinic is open for consultation on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, weekly. Also, the clinic educates all community members about seriousness of these diseases and prevention methods.
On the other hand, over the past week, the 937-Service Center handled 4,375 notifications, including 194 hospital transfer requests. The Center also provided 16,345 medical consultations, and received 36,608 incoming calls, including 14, 371 inquiries and 1, 323 requests for smoking cessation treatment.
The Center provides a range of distinctive services, including inquiries about MOH’s services, outgoing and incoming transactions, health services, medical consultations, and hospital transfer requests based on the medical need, in addition to complaints against public and private health facilities. Also, the center receives all patients’ health-related calls, all complaints 24/7, and refers them to the concerned departments at MOH or its branches, as well as all emergency calls; thus, serving as a listening ear for patients to identify their needs and requirements and to meet them.
It is worth mentioning that the 937-Service Center is one of the most important MOH’s initiatives. It aims to provide medical services through its toll-free number, which can be accessed throughout the Kingdom. The center operates based on listening, response, implementation, and analysis. The performance of regional Health Affairs is evaluated by closing citizens' reports and their satisfaction with the services provided. This assessment is published weekly and directly supervised by the Minister of Health.