RIYADH: Saudi Arabia added to its record of successes a new achievement after conducting its 52nd separation procedure of conjoined twins, one of the most complex medical operations. The first operation of this nature took place in 1990 through the launch of the Saudi Program for Separating Conjoined Twins. The program has been running for three decades and has treated patients from around the world. It is the only one of its kind, covering all expenses, including operation, treatment, post-operation rehabilitation and hosting the parents of the twins to keep them in the company of their children during the surgery and recovery period. This achievement reflects the Kingdom’s keenness to provide welfare to people. It also reflects Saudi medical excellence, which comes in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in developing the health sector and raising its quality and efficiency. In May, a team of specialist surgeons in Saudi Arabia successfully separated Yemeni conjoined twins Yousef and Yassin after a “complicated” nonstop surgery that lasted 15-hours. Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of KSRelief and head of the medical and surgical team for separation operations, said that the four-phase surgery was among the most complicated. The twins were conjoined in several organs and 24 doctors were involved in the procedure to separate them.