Hospital worker ‘victimized for reporting corruption’

A hospital worker in Jazan has claimed that he was victimized after reporting alleged corrupt activities at a health facility in the region to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha).

Ahmed Ali Jumah, formerly a nursing technician at Al-Twal General Hospital, said that he had pay deducted after he reported the alleged unfair practices, an online publication reported. He claimed that he had been unfairly treated, that undeserving employees were given extra allowances, and that there were various other “corrupt activities” taking place at the hospital. He claimed that the hospital had recorded it had 50 beds when it only has about 25. “I was surprised when I had five days’ pay deducted from my salary. When I raised the issue with the hospital’s management, I was told that there would be additional punishment if I complained again,” he said.

Jumah claimed that he had filed a grievance on the matter with the Jazan health department but allegedly did not receive any help. He also filed a complaint with the Health Ministry.

He said that he had been harassed by the hospital’s management. The threats had caused him sleepless nights and had adversely affected his health and state of mind, he said.
He said that he had worked at the hospital for 11 years. His job was as treasurer but he was later appointed as a nursing technician, his actual specialty. He said that he was later transferred to King Fahd Hospital.