RIYADH: National Guard Minister Prince Khaled bin Ayyaf sponsored on Monday the opening ceremony of the eighth Patient Safety Forum at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Saudi and foreign experts, specialists and health practitioners will participate in the five-day forum in Riyadh. The prince was received by Bandar Al-Qanawi, executive director for health affairs at the National Guard Ministry, and Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Nahid, director of the university. The ceremony began with a speech by the chief executive of the Saudi Center for Patient Safety, Abdul Mohsin Al-Saudi, who welcomed the prince and thanked him for opening the forum. Preserving patient safety is among the biggest challenges facing health organizations worldwide, Al-Saudi said. Al-Qanawi delivered a speech in which he thanked Prince Khaled for sponsoring the opening ceremony, and said this reflects the government’s care for the Saudi health sector. Al-Qanawi stressed the importance of benefitting from medical research to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform program. He said the forum has become effective and influential in raising awareness about the importance of patient safety in health facilities. This year’s forum will focus on information technology, or health informatics, and its importance in supporting patients, he added. Prince Khaled expressed his happiness at attending the opening ceremony, and said patient safety is a pillar of an effective health system. At the end of the ceremony, he honored the forum’s speakers and participants.