Petra, May 18 (Petra) – Minister of Health Firas Hawari on Sunday inaugurated the Petra Comprehensive Health Center in Wadi Musa, in a ceremony attended by Ma’an Governor Hassan Jbour, MP Yousef Rawadiya, the Ministry’s Secretary-General for Primary Healthcare and Epidemiology Raed Shboul, along with members of the Governorate Council and local officials and community representatives.

The opening is part of the Ministry of Health’s broader strategy to upgrade health services across the Kingdom and prepare infrastructure for the first phase of universal health coverage.

The center was established at a cost of approximately JOD 1.35 million, with funding from a $1 million grant by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and JOD 650,000 allocated by the Ma’an Governorate Council under its decentralization budget marking a model of successful collaboration between donor entities and national institutions to improve public health services.

Hawari stated that the center reflects the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality for all citizens. He noted that the Ministry is moving forward with its infrastructure modernization plan by phasing out rented and outdated buildings and replacing them with purpose-built facilities that comply with medical standards.

He added that the first phase of the universal health coverage plan includes the establishment of a health insurance fund for social security subscribers not currently enrolled in mandatory insurance, aiming to cover nearly two million individuals a transformative step in advancing primary healthcare.

Occupying an area of 2,200 square meters over three floors, the Petra Comprehensive Health Center features clinics for general and family medicine, dentistry, smoking cessation, nutrition, and health education and counseling. It also includes a maternity and childhood department, laboratory, pharmacy, medical registry, and staff housing and support services.

The center is the largest of its kind in Jordan and is expected to serve around 24,000 residents in the district in addition to domestic and international tourists. It enhances the region’s emergency preparedness and contributes to the sustainability of health tourism.

Dr. Hatem Habashneh, Director of the Petra District Health Directorate, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the new center represents a significant step forward in addressing the evolving healthcare needs of residents and visitors. He said the facility is equipped with modern medical technologies and staffed by qualified professionals to provide comprehensive, high-quality care.

Habashneh added that the directorate continues to enhance the efficiency of health services in the district by expanding infrastructure and strengthening technical and administrative support.

In a related visit, Hawari toured Queen Rania Al Abdullah Government Hospital in Wadi Musa, where he inspected service delivery, met with patients and medical personnel, and reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to improving service quality and promptly addressing public feedback.

//Petra// AJ
18/05/2025 13:15:18