SAUDI ARABIA – In the first half of 2023, more than 170,000 non-critical surgeries were performed at government hospitals of the Saudi Ministry of Health.
Over 170,000 non-critical surgeries have been performed in various surgical specialties in the first half of the year in comparison to more than 290,000 non-critical surgeries conducted in 2022, according to the Ministry of Health.
General surgeries topped the list of specialties with 21%, followed by obstetrics and gynecology (13%) and eye surgery (13%).
In an official note, the Saudi ministry said: “The number of total surgeries that were carried out in its hospitals all around Saudi Arabia’s regions reached 177.744.2 in the first half of 2023.”
As of 2022, over 49,600 surgeries were performed in Riyadh region, 8,765 in Tabuk region, 13,800 in Taif governorate, 5,543 in Al-Qurayyat governorate, 2,631 in Al-Qunfudah governorate, 22,100 in Al-Qassim region, 7,106 in the Northern Borders region, and 10,100 in Najran region.
The ministry’s hospitals conducted 16,100 surgeries in the Makkah region, 17,800 in the Madinah region, 19,900 in the Jazan region, 18,500 in Jeddah governorate, 10,100 in Hail region, 6,935 in Hafar Al-Batin governorate, 20,100 in Al-Sharqiyah region, 7,616 in Bisha governorate, 8,771 in Al-Baha region, 24,400 in Asir region, 5,937 in Al-Jowf region, and 13,600 surgeries in Al-Ahsa governorate.
The government agency further said that bariatric surgery, dental surgery, ENT surgery, plastic surgery, and pediatric surgery accounted for the highest specialties on the patient waiting lists.
According to the Ministry of Health, the average number of patients added to the waiting list every month is approximately 24,000 at government hospitals.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health uses corporate performance improvement methodologies to develop and implement performance improvement.
The Saudi ministry has pledged its commitment to working with the health performance program by following up and monitoring the waiting lists of non-critical surgeries.
Through the Secondary and Specialized Care Center at the National Health Center for Command and Control (CCC), the ministry has tied up with the health performance program to ensure service access and scheduling of surgical operations within 36 days.
These measures are part of the Saudi Ministry of Health’s objectives to enhance ease of access to healthcare services.
Saudi Arabia is experiencing a growing and aging population and increasing life expectancy that seems to expand healthcare needs and increase healthcare costs.
In alignment with Vision 2030’s strategy, the Saudi body is making additional investments to ensure the availability and accessibility of various medical care services to beneficiaries all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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