AIDS victims to be deported from Saudi Arabia

Saudi health minister Dr. Osama Shubokshi has said Saudi Arabia will deport expatriates who have AIDS, whether they are overstayers or holders of regular residence permits.

He said there was cooperation between various government ministries to ensure that foreigners with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were deported in order to protect the Saudi kingdom from the killer disease. He added that AIDS patients would receive hospital treatment until their conditions became fully stable so as to allow them to travel back to their homeland.

In other medical news, Dr. Shubokshi signed an 46.89 million contract with Gulf Catering Co. to supply food for the Riyadh medical complex. The contract lasts for three years.

Meanwhile the Finance and National Economy Ministry has agreed to provide loans for a 250 bed private hospital in Khamis Mushayt and a private clinic in Riyadh.