PHSSR Saudi Arabia 2025

another, necessitating strategies to reduce the risk of threats such as stampede or tra ffic injuries (see Case Study 2). People under the age of 30 years make up 70% of Saudi Arabia’s total population, and this demographic has helped raise awareness about healthy lifestyles and disease management. A 2019 individual and family survey of communication and information technology found that approximately 95% of the population uses social media, which serves as an e fficient and sustainable method of disseminating health promotion messages to a large population (General Authority for Statistics, 2019). Several ministries have organised health campaigns to promote sports and physical activity. Currently, population health is a national priority, but there are limitations to some enabling factors. Despite a solid infrastructure for digital transformation, there is limited investment in standardised data collection, such as national disease registries or data on the social determinants of health. The integration of health programmes and policies in schools has been an ongoing effort to promote student well-being. One key policy is an evidence-based school nutrition policy, which aims to increase the availability and accessibility of healthy foods in schools. This policy is part of a wider health education initiative that have been in place since the 1970s. Another aspect of this integration is the promotion of physical activity and health education programmes to help students acquire the necessary information and skills for making healthy choices. These programmes, along with the national transformation programme to modernise the country’s healthcare system, contribute to the overall improvement of healthcare in Saudi Arabia. While there have been signi ficant strides in integrating health programmes and policies in schools, there is still room for improvement, especially in targeting marginalised communities and further enhancing the effectiveness of existing initiatives. Efforts are being made to address low health literacy, particularly among minority ethnic communities, individuals from underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds and those with low educational attainment through a variety of health literacy programmes and initiatives, including the development of culturally sensitive health education materials that are accessible and easy to understand for individuals with low health literacy. These materials are provided in various formats and languages to cater to the needs of the diverse population, including ethnic minorities. In addition, community-based health education programmes for the socioeconomically underprivileged and those with low educational attainment have been established. These programmes often involve partnerships with local community organisations, religious institutions and schools to ensure their effective delivery. Furthermore, the Saudi Arabian government is committed to improving the overall education system in the country, with a focus on health literacy as a key component. This includes incorporating health literacy education into the national curriculum and providing specialised training for teachers and health professionals to better understand and address the issue of low health literacy. Overall, these initiatives aim to raise awareness about the importance of health literacy and empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding their health, ultimately contributing to the resilience and quality of the country’s health system. 6.2 Population health and public awareness for health system resilience A resilient health system should be able to effectively maintain its core functions and adapt, prepare for, absorb and respond to major public health emergencies and crises. One of the goals of the Saudi government is to build a strong and resilient health system that maintains health service quality and routine during unprecedented events. The remarkable transformation of the health system over the past six decades has signi ficantly improved the health of the population. Increased overall spending on health, the introduction of universal health coverage and the ambitious Vision 2030 plan, all of which focus on improving health, health service delivery and value, have contributed to better population health. 70 Sustainability and Resilience in the Saudi Arabian Health System The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience