Health & Life Sciences
From The Report: Saudi Arabia 2023
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Saudi Arabia places health care at the centre of its long-term development plans, guided by the Vision Realisation Programme under Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s blueprint for socio-economic transformation. Advanced health care infrastructure is in place, with ongoing efforts to modernise the sector through digitalisation and private sector involvement. Public health care services are provided free of charge to citizens, while non-citizen residents are required to obtain private health insurance – contributing to a thriving private health care segment. Strategic privatisation, innovation and infrastructure investment are key drivers of the sector’s growth and efficiency, positioning Saudi Arabia for sustained progress in the space.

This chapter contains interviews with Fahad Al Shebel, CEO, National Unified Procurement Company; and Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, Executive President, Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Holistic vision: Private sector involvement and patient-focused care are driving continued improvements in health indicators
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Health care is central to Saudi Arabia’s long-term development plans, with the sector guided by its own dedicated Vision Realisation Programme (VRP) under Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s blueprint for socio-economic transformation. Advanced health care infrastructure is in place, and the government is actively seeking to further modernise the sector and enhance efficiencies through digitalisation and private sector involvement. Public health care services are provided free of charge to Saudi citizens,…

Interview

Healthy investment: Fahad Al Shebel, CEO, National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO), on the private sector’s contribution to health services and bolstering pharmaceutical security
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Interview:Fahad Al Shebel How does the private sector help improve efficiency in the local health sector? FAHAD AL SHEBEL: Health care in Saudi Arabia offers substantial opportunities for growth, as evidenced by the interest of major international firms entering the sector. The local market is the largest in the region, and there is significant scope for further investment. The Kingdom is actively working to involve private players further in the management of the sector, following the Ministry…

Analysis

Catalyst for change: Digital platforms and procurement mechanisms are fuelling the expansion of private participation in health care
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Saudi Arabia’s health care sector is in the midst of a period of rapid change, as regulatory efforts are made to enhance the participation of the private sector and create a more dynamic market that can better meet patients’ needs. One of the national health system’s four objectives is to invest in private sector integration to create effective strategic partnerships. This is outlined in the Health Sector Transformation Programme, one of the key Vision Realisation Programmes designed to guide…

Interview

Private contributions: Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, Executive President, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), on the role of private entities and technology in the development of the health care sector
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Interview:Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey How can the private sector further contribute to Saudi Arabia’s health care and related industries? HISHAM BIN SAAD ALJADHEY: The Ministry of Health is prioritising the privatisation of the national health care sector to increase the range of services provided, with related insurance services also growing thanks to the efforts of the private sector. With more investment expected to lead to more technologies and services offered, we expect Saudi Arabia…