In Saudi Arabia one may or may not have several choices when it comes to receiving 
medical care. If one is a Saudi national there is probably a 50 per cent chance that health insurance is part of ones employment benefits. New regulation has recently passed that citizens working in the private sector must be provided health care coverage through their employer but for most in the public (governmental sector) they remain uncovered unless they have chosen to take out private health insurance coverage. Regulation is also being discussed but not yet passed for domestic employees such as housemaids and drivers to receive health care coverage. If a family driver or housemaid falls ill it depends on the good character of the family to see that he or she receives care.
For those who have health care coverage their options for medical care are likely more broad. They can choose to go to a private hospital or in other cases receive care through government or university hospitals through the respective business centers of these institutions. Those who do not have health care coverage and are Saudi citizens can go to Ministry of Health hospitals as well as to some government and university hospitals. In the case of government or university hospitals the Saudi citizen will likely have to be “accepted” by a practicing consultant for care and treatment. However once accepted, all care and treatment is free of charge.
And of course for those financially able to self-pay, it is usually not a problem to receive care and treatment at a facility of ones choosing. Exceptions to this can be hospitals such as King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Security Forces, Military Hospital which typically do not treat non-Saudis unless one is employed by these institutions.
Overall the Saudi doctors are very good and professional. I certainly have no qualms or hesitation in being seen and treated by any Saudi physician to date. Follow up care in an institution is also important and that care may not be administered by a doctor but rather by nurses and other technicians and specialists. In some cases there can be quality control issues so this is one area where one should be watchful. Do not be hesitant or shy to ask questions about procedures requested. Know what is involved, what is the process, what is expected afterward.
Filed under: Charity, culture, Health, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, Uncategorized
I loooove the new banner!
I’m glad Saudi Arabia has such an impressive health service, and that you are in such good hands.
Glad you like it…it is among my favorites too!
And yes…Saudi does have outstanding health service (at some institutions).
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I do agree in the last sentiment especially about Quality management, Saudi medical field have a huge gap to fill in management posts around hospitals. Not a lot of Saudis realize how important the health care field is and there isn’t many places to have the option to study specialty administrative tasks in hospitals.
For example we have been looking for a long while in my office for hospital quality management Saudi specialists the only one candidate we got to contact with was living on the other side of the country and was expecting much more than what we had to offer. While he only had two years of experience, where our management are usually reserved about experience years to at least 7 years of experience.
I do have my problems with MoH primary health care units and hospitals. Recently my aunt was in the local PHC for a blood test.. the unit was in good standing about 5 years ago while they had a little number of staff.. but now the new staff (mostly female Saudi nurses) have developed some kind of a mob mentality.. for asking about the dates of the children injections one of those nurses exploded at her face yelling and rambling about her child’s whereabouts and what injections he had.. and then scolding my aunt. While my aunt was only interested to know which dates they give the injections.. not if they will give her son the tri-shot. My aunt fumes did not stop with this incident.. as she was forced to go from the nurses office (Where 7 nurses just sat and chatterd without caring for any of the vistors).. she had to go between the lab understairs and this room for 5 times just to get her blood samples. What angered her more was seeing an old lady being asked to go up and down as well as asked to write a procedure form while the nurses just sat there.. she was angry and shouted at them.. thankfully a nurse from the old staff came from nearby doctors office and assisted her while the new staff did not bother.
If it was only my aunts experience in that place was horrid recently.. but it was mine as I took my sick cousin there in between lunch break. I had to open the doctors office and put a file on the desk of his helper and wait till they call me. I had seen an old man and his domestic helper just drag back and forth between the waiting lounge and the doctors office at every wrong call.
The ministry of health is running a really large centerlized operation without follow up.. I know the health care in Saudi in general is improving in terms of environmental health.. but the quality of staff, equipment and facilities in MoH jurisdiction is going downhill.