Yesterday, Al-Zaidi Chair for Arthritis and Rheumatism Research at the College of Medicine in Umm Al-Qura University launched the first national database for rheumatism patients in the Kingdom, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Ahdal, the Dean of Scientific Research, Dr. Abdulelah Al-Ghamdi, the Vice Dean of Scientific Chairs, and Dr. Hani Al-Mu`allim, the Chair Professor and General Supervisor of Al-Zaidi Chair, with the participation of distinguished medical and academic consultants of rheumatic diseases from various hospitals and medical colleges.

Dr. Hani Al-Mu`allim, Professor of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology and the General Supervisor of Al-Zaidi Chair for Arthritis and Rheumatism Research at the College of Medicine at Umm Al-Qura University, stressed that the launch of the electronic version of the national database for rheumatism patients in the Kingdom is an effective contribution by Al-Zaidi Chair towards enriching the medical and research arenas in the Kingdom, and will improve the level of health services provided and the methods of treatment applied. Moreover, it embodies the vision of Al-Zaidi Chair in the contribution to, supervision of, and participation in research in the field of rheumatic diseases in the Kingdom. He stressed that the work of designing educational training programs for physicians supervising rheumatism patients is underway, as well as implementing them in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of life in the Kingdom.

Dr. Walid Hafizh, the Scientific Coordinator of Al-Zaidi Chair for Arthritis and Rheumatism Research, emphasized the great importance of the database for rheumatism patients. He highlighted that this accurate data will contribute to raising the quality of medical services and therapeutic methods, in line with sound scientific, research and medical frameworks. He pointed out that the treatment plans, programs, and research initiatives may vary according to many factors, including genetic ones. Moreover, he added that the number of rheumatism patients currently stands at 600 patients at Dr. Sulaiman Faqih Hospital alone, stressing that the chair aims to expand the database of the online program to include all rheumatism patients in the Kingdom.

Dr. Aws Al-Hazmi, the Project Director at Al-Zaidi Chair, stated that the chair has launched many initiatives and held numerous meetings, positioning itself as a global scientific authority in this field, with a program designed to raise the quality of healthcare services provided for rheumatism patients in the Kingdom.

Furthermore, His Excellency Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Ahdal, the Dean of Scientific Research, stressed that the UQU has many distinguished scientific chairs, one of which is Al-Zaidi Chair, which play a significant role and make significant scientific research contributions conducive to the service of the Saudi community. His Excellency lauded the great support the deanship receives from His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, the President of Umm Al-Qura University, and Dr. Thamir bin Himdan Al-Harbi, the Vice President of Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research.