Over 3.7 Million Surgeries Completed Under Hospital Waiting List Plan

More than 3.7 million surgical procedures have been completed under the national initiative to reduce hospital waiting lists, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health and Population.

Since the programme’s launch in July 2018, a total of 3,768,067 operations have been carried out to address delays in critical medical procedures and prevent new backlogs from forming.

The initiative assigns patients centrally to participating hospitals based on available capacity, allowing waiting times to be reduced while ensuring procedures are provided free of charge. Priority is given to urgent medical cases and to patients with limited financial means.

To support delivery, hospital capacity has been expanded through staff training, the provision of medical equipment and supplies, and the introduction of a unified electronic system linking hospitals and relevant authorities to manage referrals and follow-up.

A wide range of specialised procedures is covered under the programme, including heart and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, cancer treatment, neurosurgery, cardiac and cerebral catheterisation, kidney and liver transplants, cochlear implants, and peripheral vascular interventions.

The ministry reported that 353,253 calls have been received through the initiative’s dedicated hotline. Since July 2023, 328,023 post-surgery cases have also been followed up to ensure continuity of care. Registration for the programme is available through its official website or via designated health hotlines.