Health Transformation Programs … Roadmap Towards Vision 2030

The main paper was presented by Dr. Khaled Al-Fuhaid, commented on by Dr. Fahad Al-Yahya and Dr. Al-Jazi Al-Shubiki, and the debate was moderated by Dr. Abeer Barhamin. The paper indicated that the transformation programs in the health sector is a long-term roadmap aimed at raising the quality of healthcare in Saudi Arabia. These programs will be part of the institutional transformation and the healthcare model, private sector participation, governance, workforce, and e-health.

The paper revealed that there is hope that these programs would raise the efficiency of healthcare services, and that they would be accompanied by strengthening the preventive aspect through enhancing health education, attention to healthy food and sports in society, and early detection of chronic diseases.

The comments made on the paper emphasized that the national transformation program in the health sector is ambitious and provides a fundamental change. It also aspires to achieve its goals through privatization by establishing government services and insurance companies on the one hand and by involving the private sector on the other hand, and turning the role of the Ministry to planning, supervision and governance … etc.

The comments also indicated that this shift would focus on the Ministry of Health as an organization, on companies as service providers and on national insurance companies as a financier. The citizen would ultimately be the first beneficiary of the quality of health services; but the success of this major qualitative shift in the health sector requires the provision of many logistic requirements, legislation and administrative organizations with all relevant parties. This requires those in charge to focus on strategic thinking that establishes a strong, long-term, robust system.

The contributors referred to the biggest challenge facing health transformation programs which is change management. This task among the staff working in the health sector is much more difficult than change management for service recipients, especially since health transformation programs drive several agencies and sectors out of the safety circle by re-establishing roles and powers according to a new philosophy other than what has been followed for years. Among the important challenges is the extent to which citizens accept new health service mechanisms. Other challenges include the conflict between the efforts of the Ministry of Health and other parties. The Ministry of Health would be transformed from a provider and service organizer to an organizer only.

The contributors also indicated that the health transformation program is one of the most important programs of the Saudi Vision 2030. The transformation program seeks to raise the efficiency of the health services provided, as it focuses on the imbalance in the growing demand for health services, and addresses them to reduce the need of citizens and residents of these services, so that they would live a higher quality of life without going to hospitals.

Among the most important recommendations were the following:

• Strengthening the preventive aspect by raising the level of health education, paying attention to healthy nutrition and sports, and early detection of chronic diseases.
• Emphasizing the necessary legislation and administrative regulations that regulate the relationship between the parties involved in the health transformation programs, and the need to clearly detail the services covered by health insurance and the service delivery mechanism.
• Having a clear governance of the health insurance system and explaining the terms of compensation and litigation provided for the beneficiary, the service provider and the health insurance companies.
• Introducing artificial intelligence to health services to diagnose a disease remotely and provide primary healthcare.
• Bridging the gap between education curricula and the practical application to keep pace with the desired aspirations.
• Making transformation in gradual stages to ensure high quality program implementation.
• Providing completely free private healthcare for some groups not covered by health insurance, such as pensioners, the unemployed, children and the elderly.
• Providing accurate technical statistics to help the legislator know the available health services.
• The preparation of prevention programs should be within the jurisdiction of the Ministry, and implemented through primary clinics.