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Minister orders installation of AC units in Amal Hospital

The hospital management had already bought four units before the minister ordered 15 more. However, the 19 split units are expected to resolve only 50 per cent of the problem.

Khaleej Times had reported on July 2 that patients at the Ministry of Health (MoH) hospital were having to bear the high humidity levels and heat during one of the hottest weeks of the season. At least one patient was taken home by the family after they thought the heat was unbearable.

The hospital's director, Dr Saleha Bithiban, said, "We are thankful to the minister for looking into the matter, but we are still expecting the main unit to be in perfect working order shortly."

According to Dr Saleha, the hospital's current occupancy rate is 95 per cent. "We have 80-bed capacity out of which 76 beds are occupied," she said.

Housed in a building that is at least 35 years old, Al Amal Hospital is catering to double the capacity it is meant to handle. The MoH had planned renovation of the hospital in 2005, but no action was taken since a new building is under construction.`

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