Under the theme: “Identification of Healthcare Strategy Priorities”, the Council of Health Services (CHS) has organized a workshop, on Tuesday morning, 31/1/2012, attended by the members of the Executive Committee of the Saudi Healthcare Strategy. This Committee is comprised of representatives of health sectors and the relevant governmental authorities. The workshop has been also attended by representatives of the planning sector of health authorities.
In this context, a number of World Bank experts have submitted worksheets revolving around the importance of setting priorities when implementing such strategies, placing particular emphasis on the ways of setting priorities for health programs. Meanwhile, the workshop shed light on the successful experiences of the forerunner countries in the field of setting and implementation of healthcare strategies.
For his part, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Council of Health Services, Dr. Yaqub Bin Yusuf Al-Mazrou, has underscored the importance of this workshop, insomuch as it highlights valuable and useful information with regard to developing systems and implementing strategies. “The importance of such workshops lies in the participants who are very well experienced in this field,” he said.
Dr. Al-Mazrou went on to say that, the Council of Health Services has already embarked on the development of certain programs meant to make good use of the experiences of the advanced countries (United States, Canada and some EU countries), as well as benefitting from the international organizations and institutions with broad experience in this field. According to Dr. Al-Mazrou, this workshop could be seen as the start point of a stronger long-term cooperation with the World Bank.
Al-Mazrou revealed, in addition, that the Council of Minister has adopted the Saudi Healthcare Strategy, pointing out that the Executive Committee of the Strategy has already been formed. This committee is assigned to identify the practical steps giving way to the enforcement of the strategy detailed plans, in addition to setting a precise timetable for the implementation of these steps. He further explained that each member of this committee is accountable for following the implementation of these steps in the authority he represents. Then, he is required to submit a quarterly report on the progress achieved in the application of the Strategy detailed plans.
It is worth mentioning that, the Saudi Healthcare Strategy is meant to explore new streams of funding, with the aim to reinforce governmental funding, contain costs, develop health information systems, introduce the most advanced technology into all health facilities throughout the Kingdom, develop and improve the capabilities of health workers, and improve the quality of performance, management and operation in all health facilities. It also designated to activate the role of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the supervision and follow-up, as well as developing health plans, ensuring the provision of the necessary healthcare services for all citizens and residents.
Besides, the Strategy enhances the role of private sector, which is parallel to (and integrating with) the role of governmental authorities and institutions in the provision, funding and operation of health services. It also seeks to promote the concept of health, in its broadest sense, through the provision of primary healthcare services, and improvement of ambulatory services to the full, in all regions and at all circumstances, in addition to the provision of curative and rehabilitative services, and working to achieve the distributive justice of health services, both geographically and demographically, and make them available for all Saudi citizens and residents.