Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia

The assignment provides an analysis of the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, highlighting its growth over two decades, the implementation of technology, and the government's plan to enhance the sector by 2030. It discusses the benefits and challenges of introducing technology in healthcare, the importance of training and development of manpower, and the vision for a more independent and preventive healthcare system.

Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia
Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia
Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia

Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia
Executive Summary
Over the last two decades, an enormous development has been witnessed in the health care sector
within Saudi Arabia. The progression in improved design plans and development plans in the
infrastructure has helped in the extension of therapeutic benefits everywhere throughout the
nation. A noticeable improvement in education and training field of medicals has also been
witnessed. Also, the advancement of information technology has played an important role in
quality improvement and dimensions of the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia.
Technology is helping healthcare professions in effective management of resources and thus
providing an increase in the productivity. Though there are huge benefits of implementing
technology systems in the sector but with it comes many challenges in different aspects. The aim
of this paper is to discuss those challenges, its benefits and impact on the whole sector and to
examine the Saudi’s human services framework's status to change that Saudi Arabia expects to
execute by 2030.
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Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia
Introduction
During year 1949, the total number of documented staff was confined to 111 and less than 100
beds in total. Since that time, the healthcare sector is continuously advancing and huge
developments have been performed to every corner of the nation (Repetto, 2009). The number of
staff and hospitals has multiplied 40 to 50 times since 1949 and sector has also witnessed a great
support from the government with a sharp increase in the health budget which is almost equals to
7% of the total national budget (Repetto, 2009).
Analysis of Saudi’s Present Health Care System
The introduction of technology into the healthcare sector was carried out in 1970. During the
time of King Faisal Specialized hospital became the first to implement ICT. Later in starting
years of 21st century a committee was formed to improve and evaluate the healthcare system
(James, 2017). The committee worked upon the principles of infrastructure development and
advancement in best medical services. The upgrade in the healthcare facilities coupled with
increased funding in the healthcare sector, Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system has been ranked at
26th position amongst 191 total healthcare systems across the world. New-Zealand, US, Australia
and Canada has been ranked lower than Saudi’s rank in spite of being the most developed
countries in the world (Lukas, Holmes & Cohen, 2017).
60% of the health services are provided free of cost by the ministry of health of Saudi Arabia via
13 health directorates. Some of the government agencies aids in additional 20% free services
while rest of 20% is being provided by non-government sector and is also growing rapidly
(Lukas, Holmes & Cohen, 2017). Almost every possible medical treatment that is available in
today’s time is present in most of the centers at Saudi Arabia and patients are able to afford it
with government’s innumerous help.
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Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia
Technology Impact
The implementation of technology in healthcare sector has enhanced the utilization of healthcare
services. Healthcare information systems have the potential to tradeoff multiple health tests by
advising on what can be the best in a possible situation. On one hand multiple tests can help to
identify best diagnosis for the patient but on the other hand all these tests will incur more cost to
the patients and might increase the risk of medical errors and complications. Healthcare
Information System performs this with use of various inputs to the system and tests observed
calculations and decide on the best medical advice (Bennett, 2016).
Ease of Workflow
With everything computerized and lessened paper work, employees feel at ease and are more
accurate in their work. The possible risk of errors has been reduced in comparison to paper based
working. It has also helped the employees to digitally view patient’s record in a more efficient
and productive manner (Bennett, 2016).
Improved Public Health
With the help of EHRs, clinical researchers are able to gather more and more patient data and it
helps them in developing new treatments depending on the needs of the society. Also, if a
healthcare industry is centralized with technology, chances are a bacterial or viral infection can
be identified more quickly and prevent an outbreak (Wittenstein, 2016).
The implementation of IT has provided innumerous benefits to the healthcare industry but it has
also associated some extra costs to bear. The designing and implementation of any IT software is
an expensive process and has to managed and updated periodically. This is not a onetime
investment scheme and need changes with every development in the industry (Wittenstein,
2016).
Training and development of Saudi Manpower
The implementation of IT software has demanded a proper training of the staff to handle the
system efficiently and productively. Also, a need of 24 hours customer service executive in case
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Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia
someone encounters a problem with the software is the major requirement. This all has resulted
in additional costs (Roches, 2012).
Vision 2030
As per the report of World Health Organization Officials, Saudi Arabia’s health industries are
already amongst top-level hospitals and with the government’s recent plan that includes a
technological strategy to cover in the coming 10 years, it is believed that Saudi Arabia’s health
industry will advance more and more with time(Jones, Jimmieson & Griffiths, 2015). The
government has plans to emphasize use of technology and providing quaternary care in every
region of Saudi thus making them independent in every provision of providing care to patients.
The public sector aims to aware more and more people of preventive measures from infectious
diseases thus reducing them (Preston, Westaway & Yuen, 2016). Sector also visions for the free
online insurance to the citizens for the best of medical facilities and reduced waiting times for
medical appointments with consultants and specialists (Jones, Jimmieson & Griffiths, 2015). A
special training program will be set up for doctors to help them in providing improved treatment
for life threatening diseases. The government plans to achieve all this by introducing
corporatization which will include companies that are technology related(Preston, Westaway &
Yuen, 2016).
Summary
The analysis of this case shows that the development in the healthcare sector of Saudi Arabia has
influenced the life of citizens of kingdom and transformed the health map guide of the nation in
an exceptionally positive manner. The implementation of technology in the sector resulted in
providing high quality services to the citizens of kingdom. However there is a need to establish a
balance between curative and preventive services and this is the ultimate vision of the public
sector for 2030. Also, administrative and managerial skills demands successive training along
with the Saudi’s manpower’s training and it has been planned through quality programs
application.
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Case Study Analysis for the Healthcare Systems in Saudi Arabia
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