Prince Faisal launches Al-Shifa Endowment to boost charitable health care funding

Prince Faisal bin Salman, special adviser to King Salman and chairman of the Al-Shifa Endowment Supervision Council, recently inaugurated Al-Shifa Endowment operations in Makkah, in the presence of Deputy Makkah Gov. Prince Saud bin Mashaal bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

According to the SPA, the launch builds on the introduction of the Al-Shifa Health Endowment Fund in Madinah last Ramadan. The aim is to extend health care coverage to residents without access to free health care or insurance across multiple regions of the Kingdom.

At the ceremony, hosted by Makkah Chamber of Commerce Chairman Abdullah Saleh Kamel, the Al-Shifa Health Endowment platform was announced, in collaboration with the Ehsan platform. Donors at the event contributed more than SR37 million ($10 million) to the platform.

The SPA stated that the Al-Shifa Endowment “aims to pioneer new health programs and products to improve health care for beneficiaries. It offers individuals the chance to alleviate patient suffering through Zakat funds, charity, and grants. Moreover, it encourages community involvement and activates social responsibility programs within private sector companies.”

The agency added: “The Al-Shifa Endowment is dedicated to addressing the health care needs of beneficiaries in the two holy cities. It focuses on establishing and enhancing health institutions, providing counseling services to beneficiaries, leading in the utilization of cooperative health insurance to bolster the charitable health sector, and assisting in the establishment of the endowed Al-Salam Hospital in the central area, aimed at serving pilgrims. This initiative also facilitates health practitioners in delivering specialized services.”

The ceremony included an open dialogue session involving supporters and donor institutions and was attended by Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, the governor of Jeddah, as well as Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi and other key officials.