PHSSR Saudi Arabia 2025

Different areas of the Saudi Arabia healthcare system work together to coordinate care to improve quality through a combination of government-led initiatives, technological advancements and collaboration among healthcare providers, including: •The National Transformation Programme (NTP) and Model of Care (MOC) initiatives focus on enhancing healthcare infrastructure, increasing the availability of trained professionals and streamlining service delivery. By working together, public and private healthcare organisations ensure continuity of care and improved patient outcomes. •The implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems across Saudi Arabia allows healthcare providers to easily access and share patient information, leading to better coordination among different areas of the healthcare system. As a result, providers can make more informed decisions and deliver higher-quality care. •Interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are increasingly working together in Saudi hospitals to provide comprehensive, coordinated care, ensuring that patients receive the necessary treatment and support at each stage of their recovery. •Quality improvement programmes and patient safety initiatives have been implemented in hospitals, such as the Safe Surgery Checklist, hand hygiene practices and incident reporting systems. These programmes foster collaboration among different areas of the healthcare system, leading to improved patient outcomes and a reduction in medical errors. Overall, coordination of care among different areas of the healthcare system is crucial to achieving and sustaining improvements in quality and patient safety. By working together, healthcare providers and organisations can address challenges and ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care. 5.2 Service delivery for health system resilience Saudi Arabia exhibited high resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic. The country returned to pre- Covid-19 status with all restrictions lifted within 73 days of the outbreak. The public health emergency Control and Command Centre (CCC) monitored the pandemic, reaching out to the WHO and other relevant organisations, taking several precautionary measures before Covid-19 was declared a pandemic. This approach used preventative measures to minimise the health crisis, thus ensuring adequate service delivery with regard to the workforce, medicines, technology and equipment. Health clusters were launched in all regions to facilitate access to healthcare services, and information about the virus and precautionary measures was disseminated through a number of platforms. Vaccination centres were established in multiple areas. The private healthcare sector played a signi ficant role in reducing the Covid-19 burden, providing critical support to the government in managing the pandemic, including setting up private Covid-19 testing and treatment facilities, providing medical supplies and equipment and increasing the number of hospital beds. The private sector also worked with the government to develop and implement Covid-19 prevention and control measures, including infection control programmes and telemedicine services to minimise the risk of transmission while continuing to provide healthcare services. During the pandemic, hospitals in Saudi Arabia faced some limited disruptions to speci fic services, including deferred diagnostic services, elective surgeries and other interventions. This was due to the need to prioritise treatment of patients with Covid-19 and to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus. The surge in Covid-19 cases also put a strain on hospital capacity, including ICU capacity. The activation of many virtual telemedicine modalities alleviated some of the pressure imposed on these hospitals. National response measures and health preparedness in response to Covid-19 were robust in all of the WHO’s proposed nine pillars (see Table 5 in Governance section) to combat the pandemic due to the roadmap that was prepared and implemented by the different sectors, including the healthcare sector and supported by the government during all phases of the pandemic. This proactive and 62 Sustainability and Resilience in the Saudi Arabian Health System The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience