BOSTON, May 17 (UPI) -- A program that sent Saudi Arabian patients seeking immediate care to Boston-area hospitals has been closed because of delays in getting visas.
Saudi officials say the program, run by a prince's charity, paid for hospital and lodging expenses but the delay in visas was too much.
The Boston Globe reports medical, business and tourism visas issued to Saudis dropped from 56,912 in 2001 to 22,621 last year. Saudis treated at Boston hospitals participating in the prince's program dropped from 459 in 2001 to 163 last year.
The Saudi Ministry of Health and military run similar programs, which seek help for patients suffering form cancer, heart ailments and other serious, complicated conditions.
The Health Ministry said it will reduce its program.
The program meant an extra $15 million per year was spent in the Boston area under Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd's program alone, according to Saudi spokesman Nail Al-Jubeir.
But the lag time on visa issuance has prompted the prince to cut the program and Saudis to look elsewhere for the specialized help.
