First successful gastric sleeve surgery at King Faisal Hospital in Makkah

The Makkah Health Cluster has recorded a new qualitative medical achievement that adds to its record of successive successes, represented by performing the first successful gastric sleeve surgery within the halls of King Faisal Hospital, in a step that reflects the fruits of strategic cooperation and professional integration with the obesity surgery team at King Abdullah Medical City, and embodies the practical application of the modern healthcare model adopted in the Kingdom.

Details of the medical achievement and speed of response

This achievement began with the arrival of a patient at King Faisal Hospital suffering from morbid obesity and severe weight gain that negatively impacted his quality of life. Upon arrival, urgent care pathways were activated, and the patient underwent thorough and comprehensive medical examinations to assess his health condition and its suitability for surgical intervention.

Thanks to the high level of preparedness of the medical teams and the excellent coordination between the General Surgery Department at King Faisal Hospital and the Bariatric Surgery Center at King Abdullah Medical City, the medical decision was made to perform a sleeve gastrectomy. The operation was a complete success, thanks be to God, and was completed in a record time of less than one hour. The patient was then transferred to the inpatient ward in stable condition, reflecting the efficiency and quick thinking of the medical staff in handling complex cases.

The importance of integration in light of Vision 2030

This event is not merely a successful medical procedure; it holds profound implications for the future of healthcare in Saudi Arabia. This success is a tangible manifestation of the goals of the Health Sector Transformation Program, one of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programs, which aims to facilitate access to and enhance the quality of healthcare services.

Activating cooperation between general hospitals (such as King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre) and specialized medical cities (such as King Abdullah Medical City) is a cornerstone of the healthcare cluster system. This integration ensures the transfer of expertise, standardization of treatment protocols, and the provision of specialized surgeries to patients in their local areas without the need for referrals to long waiting lists at specialized centers. This directly contributes to easing the burden on medical cities and accelerating the pace of treatment.

Combating obesity and promoting quality of life

This achievement is particularly significant given the broader health context, as obesity is a major health challenge facing society, and the Ministry of Health is working diligently to provide advanced medical and surgical solutions to reduce the complications of associated chronic diseases. The success of this procedure at King Faisal Specialist Hospital opens new horizons for expanding bariatric surgery services to include a larger segment of beneficiaries in Makkah.

Praise for national talent

For his part, Dr. Hatem bin Ahmed Al-Omari, CEO of the Makkah Health Cluster, expressed his gratitude to the administrations of King Faisal Hospital and King Abdullah Medical City. In his statement, Dr. Al-Omari emphasized that this synergy between the medical teams reflects the maturity of the collaborative work system and the cluster's ability to provide advanced and safe healthcare services. He stressed the ongoing commitment to implementing the Saudi healthcare model, which prioritizes patient safety and satisfaction.