National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) is a large modern health care organization providing medical care to National Guard employees and their dependents, and to Saudi Arabian nationals. Under the umbrella of NGHA, there are four hospitals and sixty Primary and Secondary Health Care Centers throughout the Kingdom, with a total of 2000 in-patient beds. These hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission International. NGHA serves more than 2.5 million outpatients and around 60,000 in-patients annually. It is also recognized worldwide for its achievements in the surgical separation operations of conjoined-twins.

The health care facilities of NGHA are run by a diverse community of professionals, many of whom are engaged with the study of information and its use by people and organizations. In an attempt to develop as an academic institution, all NGHA facilities joined together under the umbrella of King Abdulaziz Medical City Academy in early 2004. Subsequently, under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) was established. The College of Nursing was first to be founded, followed by the College of Medicine.

Today, the university incorporates the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences (CNAMS), the College of Public Health and Health Informatics (CPH&HI), the Academic Affairs Department, and the Training and Development Department.

As an academic institution, KSAU-HS recognized the critical role of research in the advancement of knowledge in health sciences. This led to the establishment of King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC). However, research activities had originally been initiated by the National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) in November 1994, through the Research Steering Committee. This committee was responsible for the development of research, the establishment of clinical guidelines, policies and procedures, and the review of all research proposals submitted for prospective funding. The establishment of KAIMRC fulfills an inspiration to found a competitive and internationally renowned research center.

For more information visit the following link: http://www.kaimrc.med.sa/