Report on Burden of Diseases, Risk Factors, and Health System in KSA

This report analyzes the burden of diseases and associated risk factors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It highlights the significant improvements in the health system over recent years, largely due to the efforts of the Ministry of Health in researching and reforming healthcare strategies. While KSA has successfully reduced the burden of infectious diseases, challenges remain with road accidents, depression, and a rising prevalence of chronic diseases due to population growth and lifestyle factors. The report emphasizes the need for effective resources and measures to control infectious disease outbreaks, especially during the Hajj period, and advocates for improved healthcare systems, increased awareness, and promotion of physical activities to mitigate health risks. It also acknowledges the role of the Saudi Patient Safety Center in enhancing healthcare practices and research.

Running head: BURDEN OF DISEASES
BURDEN OF DISEASES
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BURDEN OF DISEASES
The Saudi Arabian Kingdom has in the past few years integrated a large improvement in
its health system. This improvement was possible because of various involvements. The Ministry
of Health of KSA is researching on strategies to reform the heath system with the collaboration
to understand the burden of caused by disease and its risk factors it induces (Memish et al.,
2014).
In the KSA, it has been seen after a survey that the country was succeeding in the field of
reducing the burden of infectious disease and its prevalence. The matter of to need an instant
intervention was only the road accidents and the depression cases. But there is still a challenge
left for KSA which is the burden of chronic disease, due to its rising population. Even with the
growing issue of road accidents and non-communicable disease, the KSA is a country with high
risk of infectious disease outbreak as it has the high number of pilgrims to visit during Hajj
period. So the country requires effective resources and measures to control and prevent the
outbreak. The risk increases due to the climate and the condition during the Hajj season. The
infection by a virus named HCoV-EMC is a reason to be alert about the outbreak.
As the condition of KSA is changing, the Ministry of Health is working on adaption
strategies and operation to provide time to time solutions for the outbreaks to reduce the risk.
The strategies include financial support, medical facilities and insurances. In the year of 1980, a
vaccination program was made compulsory and is followed till date that has reduced the
mortality rate of children of age below 5 years. The ministry along with the IHME conducts a
tracking system for health status monitoring in Saudi Arabia (Robert & Zamzami, 2014).

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BURDEN OF DISEASES
It growing reason for the burden of the diseases in Saudi Arabia is the lifestyle and the
environment condition there. The growing economic condition has reduced the physical activity
of people residing there and the hot temperature and the growing urbanization at the same time
doesn’t support physical activities. The dietary habit of people of KSA is not favorable for the
survival in such conditions. These reasons are increasing the burden of disease and its risk
factors that is affecting a large number of populations (Rahim et al., 2014).
In order to provide safety to the citizens, it is required physicians to have proper
knowledge about the safety procedures and the concepts. The Saudi Patient Safety Center, which
is a national body aiming to spread awareness to the citizens and improve health practices in
every health care institutes. It facilitates research for improving the health care system to
overcome the burden and its risk factors (Muennig & Su, 2013).
From the above study, it comes to a conclusion that KSA being a country with wealth
and facility, it requires more developed and beneficial health care system in order to reduce the
risk caused by the diseases and other medical issues. It needs to create awareness respecting its
religious believe and should improvise its physical activities in order to reduce the risk factor
(Mokdad et al., 2014).

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BURDEN OF DISEASES
References:
Memish, Z. A., Jaber, S., Mokdad, A. H., AlMazroa, M. A., Murray, C. J., & Al Rabeeah, A. A.
(2014). Peer reviewed: Burden of disease, injuries, and risk factors in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, 1990–2010. Preventing chronic disease, 11.
Mokdad, A. H., Jaber, S., Aziz, M. I. A., AlBuhairan, F., AlGhaithi, A., AlHamad, N. M., ... &
Alsowaidi, S. (2014). The state of health in the Arab world, 1990–2010: an analysis of
the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. The Lancet, 383(9914), 309-320.
Muennig, P., & Su, C. (2013). Introducing Global Health: Practice, Policy, and Solutions. John
Wiley & Sons. pp113
Rahim, H. F. A., Sibai, A., Khader, Y., Hwalla, N., Fadhil, I., Alsiyabi, H., ... & Husseini, A.
(2014). Non-communicable diseases in the Arab world. The Lancet, 383(9914), 356-367.
Robert, A. A., & Zamzami, M. M. (2014). Stroke in Saudi Arabia: a review of the recent
literature. The Pan African Medical Journal, 17.