The Minister of Health, H.E. Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel, participated today in the 2026 Budget Forum during a ministerial session held alongside the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, and the Minister of Education, Yousef Al-Benyan. The session, titled “The Budget Within the Framework of Developing Essential Services”, highlighted the most significant achievements and advancements within the healthcare sector and the impact of government support on elevating quality and efficiency.
In his address, the Minister emphasized that the 2026 national budget represents a new phase of growth and prosperity, supporting continued comprehensive development across vital sectors, including healthcare, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. He noted that this progress reflects the generous support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which enabled the Ministry of Health to fulfill its commitments announced in the 2025 budget, reaffirming that the health of citizens comes first.
The Minister highlighted the significant improvements achieved by the healthcare system in accessibility, efficiency, and service integration, contributing to notable enhancements in community health. Life expectancy increased from 74 years in 2016 to 79.7 years in 2025, while road-traffic fatalities decreased by 60% compared to 2016.
In a globally unprecedented milestone, the healthcare system succeeded in reducing deaths from infectious diseases by 50%, deaths from non-communicable diseases by 40%, and fatalities from unintentional injuries by 30%.
Statistical data also revealed that geographical coverage of healthcare services has reached 97.4% across the Kingdom. In 2025 alone, public hospitals expanded their bed capacity by more than 1,700 beds, with an additional 2,900 beds added in the private sector. Emergency response times by the Saudi Red Crescent improved significantly, decreasing from 25 minutes in 2016 to just 10 minutes in 2025.
Regarding operational efficiency, surgical capacity within health clusters almost doubled — rising from a weekly average of 6,000 surgeries to 12,000 in 2025 — leading to substantial reductions in waiting times. Whereas only 60% of surgeries were previously performed within standard timeframes, the rate increased to 90% in 2025.
Looking ahead to 2026, the healthcare system continues strengthening service sustainability, expanding access, and enhancing quality, further solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a leading global health destination.