Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel confirmed at the Global Health Forum that the world is facing multiple health challenges, primarily a shortage of human resources. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects a shortfall of 10 million healthcare practitioners by 2030.
He pointed out that the impact of this challenge has become tangible in multiple countries, manifested in the burnout of healthcare practitioners and the closure of some hospitals and emergency departments in Europe and other countries.
He also pointed to challenges related to the global availability of medicines and supplies, the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, and the rising healthcare costs due to an aging population.
Global Health Forum
The private health insurance sector in the Kingdom has witnessed significant growth, with the number of insured individuals increasing from 3 million in 2011 to more than 12 million by the end of 2023, and the market size reaching 40 billion riyals.
It is expected that this figure will double by 2030. The minister noted that the pharmaceutical sector is growing at an annual rate of approximately 10%, and it is projected to reach 72 billion riyals by 2030, making it the fastest-growing sector among G20 countries.
Saudi Board certification
Al-Jalajel stated that 3,000 international practitioners have received Saudi Board certification to help close the healthcare gap in the Kingdom. The Saudi Board has expanded to include over 170 healthcare programs. This increased the number of available seats by more in the last five years than in the previous two decades, now exceeding 7,000.
Moreover, the minister affirmed that the Kingdom aims to become a global hub for addressing health challenges under Vision 2030. This will be achieved by developing systems that support investment in innovation.
The “digital twin” was also announced during the Global Health Forum. Finally, it will function to assess the current health status and provide medical advice to beneficiaries through the “Sehhaty” application.
Related Topics :
Saudi Health Minister Fosters Cooperation with Cuba
Saudi Arabia Launches “Invest in Health” Stamp at Global Health Forum 2023
Saudi-Japanese Meeting to Promote Health Innovation
Saudi Arabia Boosts Localization in Vital Health Professions
Global Health Forum to Begin Oct 21 in Mulham with Prizes Over 2M Riyals
