Jordan’s healthcare expertise vital for $315m Riyadh ‘medical city’— stakeholders

AMMAN — The joint Saudi-Jordanian mega project of a medical treatment and rehabilitation city in Riyadh will raise the bar of the quality of services provided to patients and will boost further regional health services integration, with Jordanians set to hold key positions in the institution, according to stakeholders.  

The agreement to establish the comprehensive medical city was one of 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between Jordanian and Saudi private and public institutions on Monday, during Saudi King Salman's state visit to Jordan.

Signed by Fawzi Hammouri, general manager of the Specialty Hospital, and Khaled Johar, board member of the Arabian for Management Co., the $315-million (around JD224 million) investment project will serve at least 170,000 patients annually, according to Hammouri. 

Speaking to The Jordan Times on Tuesday, Hammouri said the project’s management, supervision and senior health professionals will be from Jordan, adding that the Specialty Hospital will be a key shareholder. 

He cited the agreement to establish the project as a chance to boost bilateral cooperation and investments in the medical field, and to create projects with added value to both countries.

The sector leader noted that the venture will provide at least 3,000 job opportunities, including for some 500 Jordanians in managerial, administrative and senior positions, citing the international recognition of Jordanian health professionals’ capacities as a point of attraction for such projects.

He added that the project, which will be built on an area of 1.2 million square metres, is a step forward for Arab integration in the health services domain.

In a statement from the Specialty Hospital, made available to The Jordan Times upon request, Johar said the project addresses the growing need of health services for physical disabilities and occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

He added that Saudis pay high costs for such medical services abroad.

The project will include three high-standard hospitals, with a total capacity of 1,100 beds, including a rehabilitation and physiotherapy centre with 600 beds, a general hospital with 250 beds, and a recovery centre with a capacity of 250 beds.

In addition, the project will include a 120-room and 12-wing hotel, as well as 223 touristic villas, 152 hotel-style villas and 448 furnished apartments spread over 56 complexes.

Other facilities will include a shopping mall, entertainment facilities, service centres, gymnasiums, a gas station, parks and mosques.

The project will also include a specialised physiotherapy college, as well as stations for electricity generation and water treatment, and others for heating and cooling services. 

Johar expects the project to be the biggest of its kind in the Middle East.

For his side, Hammouri said the project will not affect the number of Saudis visiting Jordan to receive medical treatment, as visitors to Jordan are mostly from northern areas of  Saudi Arabia, while the medical city will be located in Riyadh.