_Revolutionizing Healthcare by Embracing Digital Innovation in KSA

Transforming healthcare through digital health initiatives is one of the key components of KSA’s 2030 vision. The Saudi government has allocated over SAR 214 Bn on healthcare and social development sector in 2024 in comparison to SAR 167 Bn in 2020, representing a CAGR of 6.4%.

This growth in budget allocated towards this sector indicates focus on meeting the objectives of Health Sector Transformation Program (HSTP) which are as follows:

The Global Digital Health Monitoring Survey (2023)⁴ which included responses from 63 countries, identified Saudi Arabia's digital health ecosystem as advanced, earning a maturity score of 5 out of 5 across domains such as strategy & investment, workforce, leadership and governance, standards and interoperability, infrastructure, services and application, and policy and compliance. This rating positions Saudi Arabia ahead of other MENA countries and highlights its substantial investment in digital health.

The journey of shifting to a tech-driven healthcare system started in 2010⁵. However, Covid-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst for accelerating the digital health agenda and increasing the adoption of digital solutions.

Some of the key initiatives in the government sector:

Sehhaty

In 2023, the app was observed to have 30 Mn beneficiaries which was a 15% increase from 2022⁶.

Brief: An application which enables users to access personal health information such as labs reports, medical records, managing appointments and medications etc.

End User: B2C, All citizens and residents of KSA

Outcome: The app is a transformative shift towards a more efficient, patient centered healthcare system empowering individuals to be actively involved in their health management.

Seha Virtual Hospital (SVH)

Established in 2022, SVH has a network of 170 hospitals catering to 123,000 beneficiaries⁶.

Brief: A pioneer project and one of the largest virtual hospitals uses innovative technology to support hospitals through a telemedicine network with a variety of services including, but not limited to, emergency and critical care, cardiology, psychiatry, neurology, and other specialized clinics. SVH also uses Augmented Reality to guide surgeons during procedures.

End User: B2B: Hospitals

Outcome: Facilitates easy access to specialized healthcare and contributes towards promoting knowledge transfer to improve patient outcomes.

National Platform for Health and Insurance Exchange Services (NPHIES)

Since its launch in 2023, the program has served 14 Mn beneficiaries⁶ and processed over 350 Mn insurance transactions⁸

Brief: A centralized service facilitating the exchange of accurate and updated data between healthcare providers and insurance companies to automate workflow for verifying treatment eligibility, medical approvals, and financial claims.

End User: B2B: Claims Management Companies, Healthcare Providers, Insurance Companies.

Outcome: Enhances patient experience by reducing claim rejection and expediting claim processing.

Wasfaty

Since its establishment in 2022, the program has affiliated with 2,226 primary care centers, 340 hospitals and over 5000 pharmacies processing over 115 Mn online prescriptions.

Brief⁹: The MoH and National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) have an agreement to provide a platform which connects primary care centers and hospitals with a vast network of community pharmacies.

End User: B2B: Government Primary Healthcare Centers and Hospitals.

Outcome: Ensures the availability of medications, minimizes stock expirations, and improves both patient experience and safety.

Some of the key initiatives in the semi-government sector:

EyenAI

Launched in 2023 the program provides ophthalmology results in 10 seconds. It can cater to over 4 Mn Saudis that are diabetic, with 20% of them having diabetic retinopathy¹⁰.

Brief: An advanced AI technology that detects signs of diabetic retinopathy through an AI model. It has been developed through a collaborative effort of the Saudi Data and AI authority (SDAIA), King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, LEAN Business Services, and the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI).

End User: B2B: Hospitals

Outcome: Maximizes early detection, reduces waiting time and cost of examinations.

Some of the key initiative in the private sector:

Labayh

Since establishment in 2018, 2.2 Mn beneficiaries have been served by over 1,000 mental health specialists providing over 70 Mn counselling minutes¹².

Brief:¹¹ A private telepsychology platform that delivers therapeutic and well-being services, offering access to specialized psychological counseling.

End User: B2C, Worldwide access for patients.

Outcome: Increases accessibility and user engagement through interactive and personalized features.

Tele-ICU

Operating 139 ICU beds in 6 MoH hospitals¹⁴ it features One of the largest Tele-ICU Command Center in the world with the capacity to manage over 1,000 beds.¹⁵

Brief: Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group (HMG) partnered with GE Healthcare to adopt Tele-ICU technology which helps monitor patients with chronic conditions remotely within HMG network and some MoH hospitals.

End User: B2B: Hospitals

Outcome: Improves patient management and operational efficiency.

The examples highlighted above depict the volume of engagement across various digital health platforms in KSA, demonstrating that end users have adopted these platforms as they provide greater access to healthcare services.

As per Ministry of Investment, KSA’s digital health market size stood at SAR 698 Mn in 2022 and is expected to witness a CAGR of over 25% between 2022-2030¹⁶. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked 6th globally in the E- Government Development Index (2024) among G20 countries, jumping 37 places since 2020, which means there is a promising investment opportunity in the digital healthcare space¹⁷.

In essence, as the country continues to embrace innovative solutions to strengthen healthcare capabilities, it is paving the way for numerous opportunities for the private sector under PPP or PSP models within health clusters, for example, in areas such as tele-ICU and remote monitoring. Some of the key projects to look forward to in 2024 include remotely controlled traffic lights by ambulance for emergency cases and digital health solutions for early detection of chronic diseases including breast, and colon cancer. With opportunities for more projects within this space, KSA will mark a new era ensuring a future ready, tech driven healthcare ecosystem.

For further information and resources get in touch with our Healthcare Consultancy team.