By Muteb Al-Awwad

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

HAIL — Emir of Hail Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saad formally opened King Salman Specialist Hospital in this northern city in the presence of Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and other top officials. The hospital, with a capacity of 500 beds, will provide healthcare to some 700,000 residents of the city.

The project has been dragging for more than 12 years during which the residents looked for specialist medical care in nearby cities such as Riyadh and Buraidah as well as the neighboring countries.

The construction of the facility has cost more than SR240 million in addition to SR210 million for furniture and equipment.

The hospital was built on an area of 150,000 square meters and has additional space for future expansion.

The main building has an area of 34,230 square meters on six stories, in addition to the basement.

The hospital's intensive care unit has 60 beds while emergency ward has 28 beds.

There are 16 operation theaters, including a main theater and rooms for minor procedures distributed in all six floors.

The hospital has 56 outpatient clinics, occupying an area of 2,800 square meters, an advanced laboratory, a pharmacy and a well-equipped radiology department.