The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing momentous development at all sectors under the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Government which offers unceasing support to all sectors.
Among all the vital sectors prioritized by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Health Sector stands out as the first and foremost, given its unparalleled importance for individuals and the society as a whole.
Hence, in light of the momentous development achieved by our beloved Kingdom, the Health Sector has undergone a great cultural and developmental boom, at all levels, since the establishment and unification of the Kingdom by the deceased King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman. This health boom has been growing ever since, as his offspring (Saud, Faisal, Khalid and Fahad) followed in their ancestor's footsteps, and set their eyes on the development of the Health Sector.
The Health Sector has been growing over the successive generations and reigns, leading up to the current reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who made every effort to maintain the health sector as one of the most important sectors. He has prioritized this sector in his quest for preserving citizens' health and welfare, by establishing several medical cities and towers, as well as the development of the existing health facilities.
The medical cities spread out all over the Kingdom stand out as one of the major hallmarks of development process and cultural boom the Kingdom is undergoing.
In this spirit, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has incurred, through its health strategy, the responsibility of delivering its services to the entire Kingdom, so that all Saudi citizens would enjoy the integrated medical services provided by the Government.
The health sector is witnessing, day after day, the establishment of numerous health and development projects meant to cope with the Kingdom's momentous human and developmental growth. The MOH's reaction to such growth took the form of vigorous developmental activity in its facilities and service infrastructure, by adopting several programs targeting the Saudi society, at both the individual and collective levels.
Over SR 43 billion devoted to developmental health projects
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has allocated a sum of SR 43.038.582.000 for the health projects underway throughout the Kingdom. They make up 188 health projects, including 95 specialized and general hospitals, maternity and children hospital and mental health hospitals. That's to be added to 21 medical towers, and renovating the infrastructure of 44 projects, as well as the establishment of 11 dental centers, 13 medical laboratories and blood banks, and 4 diabetes centers.
These projects come within the framework of the MOH Strategic Plan and the National Project for Comprehensive and Integrated Healthcare, intended to bring into being the values of justice, comprehensiveness and equality in the distribution of health projects. The total cost of hospitals is SR 20.363.382.000, whereas the total cost of specialized centers is SR 1.168.200.000, the medical cities SR 16.270.000.000, and the total cost of infrastructure (Phase I and Phase II) is SR 4.964.000.000.
The 116 hospitals and medical towers are distributed to 13 regions, at a total cost of SR 20.636.382.000, and at a total bed capacity of 27.000 beds.
Specialized Centers:
The number of specialized centers is 28 centers, including medical laboratories, diabetes centers, dental centers, in addition to regional laboratories and blood banks, at a total cost of SR 1.168.200.000.
Medical Cities:
Just as all Saudi developmental projects, medical cities have received much concern from the Ministry of Health (MOH), as manifested in the expansion and establishment of integrated medical cities, at a total cost of SR 16.270.000.000. This budget covered the expansion of King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh at a cost of SR 2.935.000.000, and at a bed capacity of 850 beds. This city includes an oncology center, and the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), a cardiac center, a research center, and the Administration Building, in addition to the City's residence. The above-mentioned budget covers, also, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) in Makkah, at a cost of SR 3.435.000.000, and at a bed capacity of 1500 beds. KAMC includes a specialist hospital, a cardiac center, an organ transplantation center, an oncology center, a neurological center, the obstetrics and gynecology hospital, the ophthalmic hospital, the rehabilitative hospital, the outpatient clinics, and the Central Laboratory for Hajj Research, in addition to completing the Services Building, the Administration Building, and the City's residence.
King Khalid Medical City in the Eastern Region: it has been established at a total cost of SR 2.965.000.000, and at a bed capacity of 1500 beds. It includes the specialist hospital in Dammam, an organ-transplantation center, an oncology center, a cardiac center, a neuroscience center, Al-Zahran Ophthalmic Specialist Hospital, a rehabilitative hospital, outpatient clinics, a research center, the Services Building, the Administration & Conferences Building, and the City's residence.
King Faisal Medical City in Assir: it has been established at a total cost of SR 3.965.000.000, and at a bed capacity of 1350 beds. It includes the specialist hospital in Assir, an oncology center, a cardiac center, a neuroscience center, an ophthalmic hospital, a rehabilitative hospital, outpatient clinics, a research center, the Services Building, the Administration Building. It also includes the establishment of a tunnel and the City's residence.
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud Medical City in Northern Region: it has been established at a total cost of SR 2.080.000.000, and at a bed capacity of 1000 beds. It includes King Abdulaziz Specialist in Al-Jouf, an oncology center, a cardiac center, an ophthalmic hospital, and a rehabilitative hospital, a neuroscience center, as well as the Administration & Conferences Hospital, and the City's residence.
King Khalid Ophthalmic Specialist Hospital in Riyadh: it has been established at a total cost of SR 200.000.000. It includes the Administration & Conferences Building, and the hospital's residence.
ICU in 6 different cities covering the Kingdom's regions, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Ahsa, Dammam, Madinah and Assir, at a total bed capacity of 6200 beds, and at a total cost of SR 16.270.000.000.
Renovation and Development of the Kingdom's Hospital Infrastructure:
The number of renovation and development of the Kingdom's hospitals has mounted to 44 projects (in Phase I and Phase II), at a total cost of SR 4.964.000.000, distributed as follows:
- A number of 22 renovation and development projects of the Kingdom's hospitals (Phase I), at a total cost of SR 2.674.000.000, based in Riyadh, Makkah, the Eastern Region, Madinah, Hail, Al-Qassim, Assir, Tabuk, Al-Jouf, Jazan, and Najran.
- A number of 22 renovation and development projects of the Kingdom's hospitals (Phase II), at a total cost of SR 2.290.000.000. These projects are planned to be established in Riyadh, Makkah, the Eastern Region, Madinah, Al-Qassim, Assir, Al-Baha, Jazan and Najran.
Underway Projects:
Seeking to keep pace with the great development achieved under the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allâh protect him, and in addition to the existing health projects, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is working on several projects, with the aim to enhance its healthcare services provided to citizens. In Riyadh, there are 24 health projects under construction, and the same is in Makkah.
Besides, there are 11 health projects in the Eastern Region, 6 projects under construction in Madinah, 7 projects in Hail, 8 projects in Al-Qassim, 4 projects in the Northern Border Region, 11 projects under construction in Assir, 7 projects in Tabuk, 4 projects in Al-Jouf, 3 projects in Al-Baha, 10 projects in Jazan, and 5 projects in Najran.