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\nRIYADH:\u00a0Saudi Arabia is planning to build medical facilities worth $13.8 billion by 2030, according to Faisal Durrani, Knight Frank\u2019s partner and head of research in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cVision 2030 has sharpened the focus on the public realm, liveability and habitability of Saudi cities. Wellness and wellbeing sit at its heart, with $13.8 billion worth of medical facilities expected to be built by the end of the decade,\u201d Durrani told Arab News.<\/p>\n
\nThe expenditure is part of a more comprehensive plan to invest $66.67 billion in the Kingdom\u2019s healthcare infrastructure and boost private sector participation to 65 percent by 2030, targeting the privatization of 290 hospitals and 2,300 primary health centers.<\/p>\n
\nThe Kingdom is allocating about 14.4 percent of its 2022 budget to healthcare and social development, which amounts to $36.8 billion, the third largest expense after education and military, according to Dubai-based Omnia Health, a global medical directory.<\/p>\n
\nWith life expectancy in Saudi Arabia projected to increase from 76.4 to 81.8 years by 2050 and the Kingdom\u2019s population expected to grow to 39.4 million by 2030, increased investment in the healthcare infrastructure and innovation is necessary to drive strong growth in the Kingdom\u2019s healthcare sector, the medical directory reported.<\/p>\n
\nThe long march to secure healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n \nThe Kingdom has invested in health clusters across the Kingdom, increasing the number of internationally accredited hospitals, doubling the number of primary healthcare visits per capita from two to four and expanding digital healthcare innovation, stated Omnia Health.<\/p>\n \nAccording to Colliers International, an investment management entity, the Kingdom will need an additional 20,000 hospital beds by 2030 to tackle shortages and meet the needs of its growing population. The numbers are based on the Kingdom\u2019s rapid expansion plans to host significant infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n \n\u201cRiyadh alone is expected to see its hospital bed capacity rise by almost 6,600 beds by 2030, the largest increase in the Kingdom,\u201d Durrani said.<\/p>\n \nAlso, another industry metric suggests that a community needs four to six beds per 1,000 population above 65 years, implying that the Kingdom will require between 6,400 and 9,600 beds dedicated to long-term care.\u00a0<\/p>\n \nThis demand is expected to reach 41,200 to 61,800 LTC beds by 2050, Colliers reported.<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt is estimated that Saudi Arabia will require between 1.64 and 3.05 physicians and nurses per 1,000 population to provide health services in 2030,\u201d stated Omnia Health.<\/p>\n \nDigital turnaround strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n \nThe Kingdom is expected to be the fastest-growing digital health market in the Gulf Cooperation Council, with the government allocating $1.5 billion for healthcare information technology and digital transformation programs.<\/p>\n \nSaudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel said during the opening of the digital event of the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society last year that digital technologies were one of the essential tools for dealing with the pandemic.<\/p>\n \nIt helped develop the first interactive map of COVID-19 data, providing accurate statistics and employing AI to analyze data and make national strategic decisions.<\/p>\n \n\u201cAnother significant goal is highlighting the importance of health information technology and its influential role in improving performance efficiency, the quality of services, and the optimal use of resources,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \nPowered by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Saudi Arabia\u2019s King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, one of the leading biomedical and clinical research, uses high-performance computing to power its complex research into a potential treatment for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.<\/p>\n \n\u2022 The Kingdom is allocating about 14.4 percent of its 2022 budget to healthcare and social development, which amounts to $36.8 billion, the third largest expense after education and military.<\/p>\n \n\u2022 Saudi Arabia will need an additional 20,000 hospital beds by 2030 to tackle shortages and meet the needs of its growing population.<\/p>\n \n\u2022 AI, the internet of things and 5G are the factors that are transforming the healthcare sector in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n \n\u2022 Launched in 2022, the Health Sector Transformation Program aims to ensure sustainable healthcare services in the Kingdom and a more effective and integrated health system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \nKAIMRC required diligent analysis of structures within the viruses. In addition, the team needed specific simulation tools and robust computing solutions that could capture large amounts of data and run applications smoothly and efficiently.<\/p>\n \n\u201cOracle was able to quickly deploy a highly advanced computing environment to support the complex needs of the research and equip KAIMRC with the tools to tackle this urgent problem,\u201d Fahad Al-Turief, vice president of cloud, Oracle Saudi Arabia, told Arab News.<\/p>\n \nArtificial intelligence, the internet of things and 5G are the factors that are transforming the healthcare sector in the Kingdom. They enable monitoring patients in remote areas, offering critical early interventions and serving healthcare providers to improve efficiency and reduce costs.<\/p>\n \nAccording to Omnia Health, 5G will enable new use cases, such as augmented reality surgery, robotic-assisted surgery, connected ambulances, after-surgery care and remote patient monitoring.<\/p>\n \nIn February, the Ministry of Health launched the Kingdom\u2019s first virtual hospital as part of ongoing efforts to digitalize the healthcare sector.<\/p>\n \nWith a growing live network of 130 affiliated hospitals, SEHA Virtual Hospital became the largest of its kind in the world. The only virtual hospital to rival it is in the US, with 43 connected hospitals.<\/p>\n \nHealth transformation goals<\/strong><\/p>\n \nLaunched in 2022, the newly established Health Sector Transformation Program, part of the Kingdom\u2019s Vision 2030, aims to ensure sustainable healthcare services in the Kingdom and a more effective and integrated health system.<\/p>\n \nThe program aims to improve access to health services through optimal coverage and equitable geographical distribution, expanding the provision of e-health services and digital solutions.<\/p>\n \nBased on the project, 88 percent of the population will be covered by inclusive health services by 2025, and the unified digital medical records system will cover 100 percent of the population.<\/p>\n \nThe focus on digital health, driven by technology and data, will be at the center of the Future Investment Initiative event in 2022. The world\u2019s leading healthcare players will attend a live in-person edition from Oct. 25 to 27 at the Riyadh King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center.<\/p>\n \nUnder the theme of \u201cThe Impact on Humanity,\u201d the event will convene the world\u2019s top CEOs, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and young leaders to shape the future of international investment and the global economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nFAST<\/span>FACTS<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n