Saad Hospital Greed or Stupidity??

Much of my expenses for Umar's medical care tends to be out of pocket pay. Our insurance will cover only routine things related to the growth and health of any child. Even Umar's hearing test was denied on the basis it was due to his Down Syndrome and there for a congenital disorder which they don't cover. His weekly physical therapy is also an out of pocket expense which isn't much but will continue to increase as he grows and his therapy needs to change.
I made my weekly appointments with Bayzura, Umar's physical therapist, and recieved a message on Wednesday from Saad hospital which read

"GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE AN INCREASE OF PRICES. THANK YOU SAAD SPECIALIST HOSPITAL"

Written just as you see it all in caps as I'm sure they don't want anyone to miss the fact that they are increasing prices. Increasing prices on what and how much of course you're not told. I ignore it thinking ok they may be increasing by another 10% or something which is something that they have done over the years. However, we are speaking of Saad Group which considering the one time rent increase of 130,000 SR they tried to give us one year I should have expected differently.

On Saturday early afternoon, before my appointment, I get a call from a female operator from Saad reminding me of my appointment. When I told her I was coming she reminded me of the price increase so I asked how much. I get the obvious answer "I don't know" well find out. Since your calling me about a price increase at least have the proper information to give me. She than said it would probably cost me around 280 sr which is nearly double the 150sr I pay per session.
"WHAT?? Are you crazy? Why so much?" I ask in utter disbelief.

"I don't know why but it is increased in all of Saad" she says probably hating every bit of these calls she has to make. I wish one time they would get the brainiac who decides these prices increases to call customers and feel some of the abuse that is in store for them.

"Well what do I get?" I asked

"What?" she sounded confused

"Well what do I get? Do I get a better service? Do they finally have new toys that are clean in the therapy room? " I ask, I mean the hospital isn't a flimsy place. There fees are some of the most expensive before the increase, you think they could afford to buy more than cheap 10 SR toys.

"No, everything is the same" she is confused now

"Is Bayzura, the therapist, getting a pay increase?" Someone should benefit other than greedy rich people

"No" she responds quietly

"Well what do I get? I expect something better if your going to charge me more. This is the way of any other place I expect the same from the hospital"

"You're right, you can speak with my supervisor" and she switches me only to be cut off.

So I called a guy I've been on the phone with the past two days trying to arrange a Saturday appointment for Umar's occupational therapy which he will be starting. He goes on to tell me his supervisor isn't in yet and he will call me as the only pediatric occupational therapist is off on Saturdays. I than ask "How much will it be?" he laughs nervously and responds "I don't know"

We get into a conversation of how the price increases are outrageous and he informs me of how many cash patients are canceling. So I asked "Do you get a pay increase?" the expected response came "No it goes to the owners not us" Which is even more insulting to me because Saad hospital as the lowest pay scale for hospital staff in the area.

I proceeded to go see Bayzura with Umar who had a great session although he cried every moment. It was her first day back after vacation and was shocked to see the increases and she said no one knows why. She mentions that Aramco will be bringing their employees back to Saad, this after Aramco left them after a few months for lousy service and the sudden increase makes sense. Greed!

We spoke about the cash patients, which is much of the pediatric patients, are cancelling. Many are complaining and no one seems to care because the order is "If anyone has a problem, question or complaint tell them to speak to Mr. Ghassabi" which I laugh at. "They are telling me to go see a man from a multi millionaire family about price increases?" She had to laugh along with me in the absurdity of it all.

I told her as much as I thought she is a wonderful therapist and it would break my heart to do so I might have to go somewhere else. When I add in her fees along with an occupational therapist that I was yet to be told the price for, on a weekly basis it gets to be a bit too much. Especially when there is no change in care, there are no added benefits of service, and my therapist isn't benefiting. She understands and really hates to be charging people so much.

Latter that evening I get a call from the guy who is setting my appointment with the
occupational therapist. It seems there is a Bahraini woman who comes in with her child on Saturdays and they bring the therapist in for her so they can add me. I arrange a time and than ask "So how much"

He shuffles papers and stutters a bit when he says "After the price increase 885 SR for the initial evaluation" and I respond "WHAT??? Are they crazy? How much can they evaluate for a 9 month old" he apologizes and doesn't like what it is going on either. "So tell me how much before the price increase?" quietly he says "200 SR". That is an 685 SR increase!! I than inquire about the regular visits "Before the price increase 75 SR after 350 SR" I was stunned how can anyone justify such an increase. "It is hard" he tells me "the parents are upset over the prices but it is for their children what are they to do" fully understanding our plight but what is one to do especially when they love their therapist and understand what change can mean trying to find someone else to continue the work with their child.

As much as this is so enraging and pathetically disappointing it is something I've come to expect from Saad group. I've watched over the years how this company consistently wastes money, has utterly poor management, employs too many people to do a single job, and appears to have the rich running their businesses with no concept of good business and their focus is only how much they can get from people. If we were talking some normal business giant one could accept it although despise it but when it comes to the medical profession this is absolutely heartless and beyond the scope of reason. There are many who pay out of pocket and depend on a service that the Saad Drs. provide, who although the management they work for, who are ..... (insert a nicer word here than I am thinking), are wonderful Drs.

Shame on you Saad, shame on you for putting medical services out of touch to the community of Saudi Arabia due to your greed. Nothing else can explain such an increase of fees. Greed should have no place in medical care and it is m hope that you as a hospital learn that the hard way. And while I'm at it pay more to your employees that is the only reason why people come to your hospital anyway.