Saudi-Cuba strengthen medicine ties

Medical agreement was signed in July London - Naeem Arzu A team of Cuban doctors is to travel to Saudi Arabia, after the Muslim celebration of Eid and will fill specialist positions in two prestigious medical institutions. According to an official, 30 doctors will arrive every three months to begin work at King Saud Medical City and Prince Salman Hospital, and will conduct tests on patients, review procedures and provide training and education. The Saudi Medical Visitor Programme seeks to bolster the kingdom’s major hospitals with foreign expertise, including neurosurgeons, intensive care unit (ICU) specialist, brain surgeons, eye surgeons and specialist in newborns. The agreement was signed in July by Dr Mohammed Hamza Kosheim, deputy health minister for planning and development, and Cuban Ambassador Enrique Anriquet in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Anriquet said, "This agreement comes at the forefront of constructive cooperation between the two countries, which will be to provide our experience and our efforts in the field of health." He added Cuba operates a health exchange programme in a number of countries including, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States and various European countries.