Manama: Saudi Arabia’s health ministry has sacked three staff members at a hospital in the eastern city of Bqaiq after the emergence of a video clip showing a worker painting the door of a room in which patients were being treated.
The ministry said that the duty manager, the duty nursing supervisor and the maintenance head at the hospital had all been dismissed.
In its statement that it posted on its Twitter account as well, the ministry apologised to the patients for the inconvenience caused to patients by the irresponsible attitude of the staff. It added that the safety of the patients was a red line that could not be crossed under any circumstances.
The ministry said that it had decided not to contract the maintenance company involved in any future project, Saudi news site Sabq reported on Thursday.
The 24-second clip, filmed by a patient, showed the painter applying a layer of paint on the door inside the room.
“Look at this worker who is painting inside the room. I wonder if I am here to receive treatment or to smell the odour of paint,” the patient commented.
Social media users sympathised with the patients and lauded the ministry for taking action over the incident.
“That was the right decision to make, and we thank the health ministry for its prompt action,” Ali Ali, a user, commented. “We look forward to similar punitive actions against anyone who fails his or her responsibilities and causes inconveniences to others.”
However, Um Massa, another user, said that the reaction by the ministry was disproportionate to the incident.
“You cannot deprive people of their source of income because of a single incident,” she posted. “They could have been reprimanded and warned, and in case of a repeat of the offence, stronger action can be taken.”
