Unfortunately, I started working in the Ministry of Health while it was in a stage of weakness, sagging, and lack of clarity of vision. But after a short time, Dr. Osama Shobokshi, may God have mercy on him, came to the ministry. We were glad of his arrival because of his accumulated experience in the field of medicine and administration, and at that time I had started writing in “Okaz.” », and I have already tried to talk about the conditions of the Ministry of Health, but I was faced with indifference to what I write, and sometimes the veiled warning that I work in the Ministry. When Dr. Osama received it, she found it an opportunity to write about her chronic illness, so she wrote a long article entitled “How is Health” a few days after he was appointed minister.
On the day the article was published, I received many calls from people confirming that he would not accept the article, that his anger would be severe, and that he would be punished more severely. What happened was the exact opposite. I received an extensive letter from him after three days, in which he agreed with me in everything I mentioned, thanked me for my frankness, and confirmed that he always welcomes his assistance in discovering and correcting mistakes. After that, Dr. Osama was not bothered by any critical article about health written objectively. It is based on correct information and aims for improvement and development.
Over time, I got closer to Dr. Osama through work, my participation in some committees, and during the Hajj seasons. Yes, he was strict, firm and severe in order to conduct the work accurately and not be complacent towards negligence, no matter how simple it was, because he wanted to advance the health services from its ashes, but he was nevertheless fair and equitable towards everyone. He took over the Ministry of Health while it was overburdened with debts and without a strategic plan or main objectives, which was moving randomly and without guidance. He got rid of its debts, and at the same time, its structure, departments and projects began to revive. For eight years, he led it, during which the ministry achieved a major qualitative leap in all aspects, and its new projects became available in every region. And he left it clean and tidy.
And because I knew him closely, he was that strict, serious official who had a soft heart and a tear close to any human situation. Many situations I lived with him, in which I saw his delicate feelings and transparent feelings. And after his retirement from work after many great responsibilities, he did not suffer from the complex of moving away from the light that afflicts some officials, because he was present and luminous in the social scene as a personality that everyone respects and testifies to her achievement, high morals, and lofty qualities.
Dr. Osama Shobokshi has passed away to God's mercy, but he will remain in the memory of society and the country as a great symbol that cannot be forgotten.
Hammoud Abu Talib