PHSSR Saudi Arabia 2025

the country’s vital interests, national security, critical infrastructures, high-priority sectors, government services and government activities in line with Vision 2030 . NCA regularly evaluates the compliance of government organisation portals against set cybersecurity controls. The resulting evaluation reports help to improve preparedness against cybersecurity threats. This increases the resilience of health organisations and assists in preventing interruptions of services due to cybersecurity attacks. Adoption of telehealth in clinical practice is a key policy initiative currently materialising in Saudi Arabia. This was essential in controlling the spread of Covid-19. A major telehealth success metric has been increased patient satisfaction. A study of 277 providers found that 68% of patients reported positive responses to the service. Moreover, the majority of physicians were satis fied with telehealth services (Alsaleh MM, 2021). Telehealth has facilitated the launch, in 2022, of Seha Virtual Hospital which is entirely based on delivering telehealth services. It supports 130 hospitals across the country and provides over thirty specialised clinical services. Moreover, the use of telemedicine services allows for better disease control and prevention, as patients can easily consult with their physicians and receive timely medical advice. This, in turn, has led to fewer emergency admissions and improved patient outcomes. The total annual capacity of the hospital is more than 400,000 virtual visits. The hospital also employs remote patient monitoring via medical devices that stream vital signs data and clinical results remotely from the patient to the virtual hospital. This enhances operational e fficiency and a proactive health service, enabling the identi fication of clinical issues and offering treatment in a timely manner. Overall, the implementation of telehealth, if scaled out, can substantially contribute to the resilience to the Saudi Arabia healthcare system in the face of future pandemics similar to the Covid-19 pandemic. Procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic : Saudi Arabia took proactive measures to stockpile emergency health supplies. The government and health authorities focused on obtaining essential medical equipment, such as ventilators, PPE and medicines required for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. They collaborated with local and international manufacturers to ensure a steady supply of these items. In addition, the SFDA expedited the approval process for medical devices and equipment to facilitate their entry into the market. To prevent waste and ensure the e fficient use of resources, a stringent inventory control system was implemented. This included real-time monitoring of supplies, regular audits and strict adherence to expiry dates for medicines and other perishable items. Hospitals and medical facilities were required to maintain up-to-date records of their stock levels and promptly report any discrepancies or shortages. Furthermore, the government encouraged healthcare providers to adopt best practices in inventory management, such as the first-in first-out (FIFO) method, to minimise waste and optimise the use of available resources. During the pandemic, Saudi Arabia actively participated in collective purchasing agreements to leverage economies of scale and secure better pricing for essential medical supplies. By collaborating with other countries and international organisations, the government was able to pool its resources and negotiate lower prices for bulk purchases. This strategy proved to be highly effective in ensuring a steady and affordable supply of vital medical supplies during a time of crisis. The impact of shortages in vital medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic was signi ficant but manageable. The health system managed the situation through effective hospital exchange programmes and increased public healthcare spending. In light of the country’s focus on technological advancements and infrastructure improvements, previous analysis proposes the establishment of a centralised inventory management system to anticipate and mitigate potential future challenges and risks (Al-Hanawi MK, 2019). Implementing this system would signi ficantly enhance the resilience of the healthcare supply chain, potentially creating a transition from a moderately to a mildly affected state, or even one completely unaffected by future disruptions. 55 Sustainability and Resilience in the Saudi Arabian Health System The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience