HEALTHCARE

SAUDI TRANSFORMS HEALTHCARE DELIVERY WITH DIGITALISATION

Saudi Arabia has made substantial strides in reshaping its healthcare system, according to the newly released 2024 Health Sector Transformation Program Report, which affrmed wide-ranging progress in accessibility, digital innovation, and service quality. These advancements reflect one of the key priorities of Vision 2030: building a sustainable, equitable, and patient-centred healthcare ecosystem for all residents. 

At the heart of this transformation is the kingdom’s commitment to universal access. The report notes that 97.4% of populated areas – including remote and rural regions – now have access to essential healthcare services. This marks a major leap from 84% in 2019, a testament to the aggressive expansion of primary care centres, mobile health units, and the rapid deployment of telemedicine platforms. 

Such progress stems from a clear policy direction to transition from a hospital-centric model to a more preventive, community-based approach to healthcare. Investment in digital infrastructure has played a critical role. Through enhanced interoperability and national digital health platforms, services once concentrated in major cities are now accessible throughout the kingdom.

DIGITAL-FIRST STRATEGY

One of the flagship achievements is the Sehhaty app, which has evolved into a comprehensive digital health gateway. Offering 49 different healthcare services, the app supported over 31 million users and facilitated more than 51 million consultations and appointments in 2024 alone. Whether for chronic disease management, vaccine scheduling, or COVID-19 follow-ups, Sehhaty has become a linchpin in patient engagement.

Complementing these efforts is the Ministry of Health’s 937 unified call centre, which received over 10 million inquiries in 2024. Operating 24/7, the service handles medical consultations, e-prescriptions, appointment bookings, and more – all with a 94% user satisfaction rate, signalling growing public confidence in digital-first healthcare. 

These platforms address systemic challenges such as specialist shortages and regional disparities. Innovations like virtual pharmaceutical consultations and remote inpatient visits ensure that patients across diverse geographies can access the same quality of care, without the burden of commuting or long wait times. These initiatives also reflect a broader policy shift: integrating technology not as a supplement, but as a core component of healthcare delivery. 

The transformation is not limited to digital tools. Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in workforce development and public health infrastructure. Through the Health Academy and continuous medical education programmes, thousands of healthcare professionals are being upskilled in digital competencies, data analytics, and patient-centric care models. At the same time, the kingdom is working to improve health literacy and preventative care, with national awareness campaigns on chronic disease prevention, mental health, and maternal care. 

These reforms unfold against the backdrop of ambitious system restructuring. Saudi Arabia is gradually unbundling service delivery from regulation, with the Ministry of Health shifting to a supervisory role, while newly created health clusters oversee service delivery in specific regions. This model is designed to foster decentralised, accountable, and financially sustainable care networks.

Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector is also opening up to private sector participation, with public-private partnerships (PPPs) and privatisation initiatives attracting local and international investors. From hospital operations to digital health solutions, these efforts aim to inject innovation, improve effciency, and diversify funding streams – reducing long-term fiscal burden on the state. 

BIOLOGICS MANUFACTURING FACILITY

Saudi Arabia took another important step in healthcare self-suffciency with the launch of the first biologics manufacturing facility in May. Equipped with formulation, fill and finish capabilities, the MS Pharma facility marks a major milestone in advancing pharmaceutical localisation in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.

The state-of-the-art facility reflects MS Pharma’s commitment to building a resilient and innovation-driven pharmaceutical sector. It aims to boost local production, reduce reliance on imports, and ensure sustainable access to high-quality, life-saving treatments across the region. 

“Saudi Arabia is a strategic priority for MS Pharma,” said company chairman Ghiath Sukhtian. “This facility in Riyadh represents our long-term vision to deliver complex, high-quality medicines using the latest technologies.” 

“This is more than a production site – it’s a platform for transformation,” added CEO Kalle Känd. “It supports Vision 2030 by strengthening pharmaceutical security, creating skilled jobs, driving innovation, and improving access to affordable treatments for chronic and life-threatening diseases.”

With an investment of over SAR 200 million, the facility meets global regulatory standards (SFDA, EMA, FDA) and is the first in the kingdom to oer formulation, fill and finish, and lyophilisation under one roof. It specialises in monoclonal antibodies and houses Saudi’s first in-house bioanalytical testing labs – reducing reliance on international testing and accelerating patient access to critical therapies. 

Positioned to serve Saudi Arabia, the broader MENA region, and international markets including the European Union and the United States, the facility will promote biopharmaceutical innovation.