Health: Problems and Challenges

Opportunity Arabia October 1st 2012

Saudi Arabia •Largest health care market in the GCC

•Population 28 Million

•Current health care services inadequate – supply only 60% of requirements

Government Aims

World class health care facilities for citizens and expatriates

Massive expansion of health care sector

Centre for Medical Tourism

Achievements – Health Services 1

408 Hospitals in total (50- 1000+ beds)

244 Public Hospitals

34,370 beds

Achievements – Health Services 2

• Tertiary Care – Organ transplants, 30 operations for conjoined twins

• 21 Medical Colleges – 18 Government, 3 Private

Achievements - Population

1960 population 3 million, 90% nomadic

2012 population 28 Million, mostly urbanised

Doubling of life Expectancy since 1960s

Huge reductions in mortality and morbidity rates

Health Care Sector

• Government dominated – MOH provides 60% of expenditure

• Free of charge to all Saudis

• Limited care for expatriates fuels demand for private medicine

Structure of Services

•Tier 1 : Primary Care Centres and Clinics throughout the Kingdom

•Tier 2: Secondary Care Hospitals and Specialised Treatment Hospitals largely in the urban areas

Ministry of Health (MOH)

Health Services

Other Providers

Private Sector

• Small hospitals 50-200 beds

• Out patient services and minor surgery

• Variable standards

Budgetary Allocations

KSA USA Japan China Germany0

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Resources

• Compared to other developed countries there is a shortage of beds, nurses and doctors.

• Saudi Arabia has greater shortages than other GCC countries with lowest number of beds, nurses and doctors.

Rural/ Urban Divide

• Medical services concentrated in cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Dammam

• Delivery of quality services in other cities and rural areas is weak.

Challenges: Demographics

• 50% of population under age 25

• Population over 60 set to double

• Lifestyle diseases – obesity, diabetes, cardiac diseases , renal diseases

Challenges: Resources

• Inadequate infrastructure• Staff shortages• Rural / Urban Disparity• Quality of Services

Solutions: MOH Medical Cities

6 New Medical Cities

• Additional 6200 beds

• Highly specialised centres for cancer, organ transplant surgery, eye surgery and cardiac diseases.

Solutions: MOH Hospital Expansion

• New hospital construction – major bed expansion in all regions of the country

Solutions: New Clinics

• Primary Care - SAR 7 Billion for establishing and funding 2000 Primary Care Services

• Rehabilitation Services

• Polyclinics

Solutions: MOH Initiatives

• Preventative Health Programmes

• E Health: Electronic Records and telemedicine

• Home Medicine Programme for ambulatory care

Solutions: Private Sector Expansion 2012 -2015

• Mandatory health insurance for expats creates increased demand for private medical care.

• Health insurance may be extended to Saudi citizens• Health insurance predicted to grow by 19% by end of 2015

Solutions: Training

• Ministry of Education will establish Medical training schools in all 24 Government Universities.

Solutions: Quality Control

• Quality Control of Clinical Services

• Hospital Accreditation System

• Standardisation of Medical Education

Opportunities

• Hospital design and construction• Private medical insurance• Training and Recruitment• Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment