PHSSR Saudi Arabia 2025

2.1 Financing for health system sustainability According to World Bank data, in 2019, Saudi Arabia spent 6% of gross domestic product (GDP) on health services, and the majority of this is publicly funded (World Bank, website). Article 31 of the Saudi constitution recommends providing healthcare to all citizens. MoH and independent government bodies provide free comprehensive health services, including preventative, diagnostic and medicine bene fits, to all citizens and residents working in the public sector. These services are funded by general government revenues, which account for 70% of total healthcare expenditure in Saudi Arabia. The major source of health financing is the Ministry of Finance (MoF), which allocates funds to the MoH as well as to other ministries and government agencies. The MoF disburses funds to health service providers, such as MoH-run health facilities, university teaching hospitals and other government health service facilities. Collectively, the Saudi Arabian healthcare system offers a broad range of services, including preventative care, primary care, out-patient services, in-patient services and emergency care. The government also provides coverage for some specialised services, such as organ transplants and cancer treatments. Table 6 provides an overview of health spending from 2000 to 2019. 33 Sustainability and Resilience in the Saudi Arabian Health System The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience Table 6: Saudi Arabia health spending indicators, 2010–2019 2010 2015 2019 Current Health Expenditure (CHE) as percentage of GDP 4% 6% 6% CHE in millions (USD) 19,268 39,245 45,106 CHE per capita (USD) 702.67 1,237.33 1,316.26 Domestic private health expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure 38.07% 31.53% 30.83% per capita (USD) 267.49 390.08 405.74 per capita, purchasing power parity (USD) 715.57 919.26 859.89 Out-of-pocket health expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure 18.95% 14.38% 16.50& per capita (USD) 133.12 177.97 217.18 per capita, purchasing power parity (USD) 356.12 419.4 460.28 Domestic general government health expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure 61.93% 68.4%7 69.17% per capita (USD) 435.18 847.25 910.52 per capita, purchasing power parity (USD) 1,164.17 1,996.6 1,929.67 Sources: Ministry of Health, 2022.