Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan survey throws up shocking health care facts; most complain of no access to free medication and lack of clean toilets.

Approximately 20 per cent Muslim women in city’s slums suffer from prolonged illness. While 6 per cent suffer from high blood pressure, 8 per cent have diabetes, tuberculosis and thyroid malfunction and 3 per cent suffer from asthma, kidney stones and skin problems.

Only 28 percent of 29,000 pharmacists working in the Kingdom are Saudi nationals, according to the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, which has said more than 900 Saudis, who have obtained bachelor's degrees in pharmacology, are currently seeking jobs.

“Of the total number of pharmacists Saudis represent 8,200 or 28.44 percent while expats account for 20,800 or 71.56 percent,” Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported quoting commission sources.

Source : Arab news / 02 Oct 2014

The Ministry of Health has launched a smartphone application that provides Haj pilgrims access to important health-related information and resources.

Anees Sindi, deputy commander of the ministry's command and control center, said that the recent cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Ebola have made "travelers nervous."

Source : The National / 29 Sep 2014

Almost two thirds of women take no exercise and are overweight, a new health-screening survey suggests.

Nearly a third of women screened were obese, more than a third had a family history of heart disease and half had family members who were diabetic.