Middle East Healthcare Company reported earnings results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. For the quarter, the company reported net profit of SAR 87.62 million against SAR 102.32 million a year ago. Operational profit was SAR 88.34 million against SAR 99.93 million a year ago. The gross profit during the period reduced by 6.61% mainly due to the slight reduction in revenue due to client mix and increase in care giver salaries and benefits, even though there was increase in patient traffic. The care giver salary has been mainly increased in order to cope up with the staff requirement due to the addition of 31 beds and 41 clinics. The above two main factors in turn has reduced the operational profit by 11.6%. The net profit for the quarter reduced by 14.36% mainly due to the above and increase in finance charges on account of the additional borrowings. Sales for the quarter ended 31 December, 2016 amounted to SRA 404.97 million compared to the same quarter last year of SRA 418.69 million with a decrease 3.3%. For the nine months, the company reported net profit of SAR 361.86 million against SAR 390.25 million a year ago. Operational profit was SAR 362.84 million against SAR 386.18 million a year ago. Earnings per share was SAR 3.93 against SAR 4.24 per share a year ago. The operational profit reduced by 6.05% due to the increase in selling and distribution expenses mainly because of the increased provision for rejections and bad and doubtful debts. The net profit for the period reduced by 7.27% mainly due to the overall increase in care givers salaries, increased provision for rejections, depreciation and finance charges. The sales for the year ended 31 December, 2016 amounted to SRA 1,615.65 million compared to last year of SRA 1,534.53 million which shows a growth of 5.3%.