It has been confirmed that a new holding company established by the Saudi government would take over healthcare services traditionally delivered and controlled by the country’s Ministry of Health (MoH). Health Holding Company (HHC), which has been authorised by the Saudi Cabinet, would allegedly focus on delivering medical services and care through emerging health clusters, which are a collection of autonomous enterprises that specialise in specific services. In the future, the Ministry of Health will concentrate on governing and overseeing all public and private health organisations in the country, as per a statement.
According to the MoH, the Saudi Cabinet also approved the creation of a National Health Insurance Center, with all direct healthcare-related funding allocated from the MoH to the centre in the Kingdom’s national budget. The ministry noted that this is in line with the supervisory committee’s road map towards privatisation of the health sector.
WHY DOES IT MEAN SOMETHING?
The move is part of the Saudi government’s intention to enhance the overall functioning of the Saudi health service, with the HHC focused on increasing digital health care programmes and virtual medical services, among other things. Specialist services, such as cancer and renal rehabilitation, as well as critical care in the fields of cardiology, vascular neurology, as well as trauma, are expected to be provided by the newly formed organisation.
THE OVERALL PERSPECTIVE
Saudi Arabia’s “Privatization Program,” which began in 2018, intends to increase the private sector’s participation in delivering services and making government assets available. The Kingdom is focusing heavily on healthcare, with plans to divest 290 hospitals and 2,300 basic health centres by 2030.
IN THE BOOKS
The foundation of the HHC encapsulates the leadership’s aim of enhancing healthcare services given to all citizens and residents, in fulfilment of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals, according to Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Fahad Al-Jalajel.
He went on to say that the judgement lays the legal basis for incorporating the Ministry’s transformation strategy in subsequent phases over the coming years and that the HHC’s local health clusters will enforce a range of programmes directed at boosting community health via disease early detection and prevention by way of the development of primary healthcare services.