Saudi officials inspect the damage inside the Jazan General Hospital after a blaze broke out in the intensive care unit and the maternity department on December 24, 2015.

Several citizens here have called on the ministry to reveal the names of those responsible for the recent fire at Jazan General Hospital, and to ensure they are brought to justice.

These were the sentiments expressed after a press conference held by Jazan Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Nasser and Minister of Health Khalid Al-Falih with journalists, according to a media report on Thursday.

Talal Al-Bakri, a professor and former member of the Shoura Council, said the results of the investigation did not meet public expectations because it did not reveal who was responsible for the substandard material used in setting up the facility.

He said these aspects have not been included in the report of the investigating committee, and that the director general of health affairs in Jazan was made the scapegoat.

Khalid Al-Harbi said that while the health minister was transparent and disclosed what had happened, he did not mention names, particularly the people responsible for constructing the hospital. These people should be prosecuted, he said.

Lawyer Mefleh Al-Ashjai said the ministry must take overall responsibility for what happened. Citizens and the families of victims can file lawsuits against the ministry, he said.

Ahmad Bari Makrami said that he believed there were many people responsible, including those officials who had run the hospital in the past, and Civil Defense officials. He also called for the names of the project managers involved in the construction to be disclosed.

Prince Mohammad and Al-Falih had earlier reviewed the report and said the fire was caused by an accident and no foul play was suspected.

The report stated wrong materials were used in the ceiling, which contained stuffed polystyrene that contributed to the dense smoke. The material melted and increased the fire. Investigations revealed that emergency exits were not locked and accessible, but there were faulty fire extinguishers and alarm systems.

Al-Falih said health officials would be held responsible and the director general has been relieved of his post.

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