Popular Saudi TV doctor admitted to hospital with COVID-19

Saudi Dr. Nezar Bahabri, best known for his consultations and advice on TV and social media channels, has been admitted to hospital after contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The internal medicine consultant, who specializes in infectious diseases, was on Monday being treated at a hospital in Jeddah after experiencing high-temperature symptoms for five days.

Colleagues and medics in the Kingdom took to Twitter to send get-well messages to the popular physician who has for years provided top health tips to people throughout the Arab-speaking world.

Bahabri had reportedly treated more than 500 patients with COVID-19 since the virus outbreak in early March.

Through his YouTube channel and other online platforms, he had also been offering regular medical advice on the virus, while raising awareness and answering questions from the public about COVID-19.

He gained a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery from the school of medicine at King Faisal University, in Dammam, in 1998. He then moved to the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, from where he obtained American Board of Internal Medicine certification in 2007.

The following year, he conducted his fellowship program at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and in 2010 received the American Board of Internal Medicine award specializing in infectious diseases.

He received the UBC school of medicine’s Evelyn Prize on the internal medicine program for 2007-2008.

Bahabri is currently the director of protocol services at the Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, in Jeddah, where he also holds the position of director of academic affairs and training.