Digital Hospitals and AI: The Future of Saudi Healthcare Under Vision 2030

Before Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system faced significant challenges despite substantial government investment. The system was predominantly public-funded, with limited private sector involvement, leading to uneven access, particularly in rural and remote areas. Infrastructure was often outdated, and the reliance on expatriate healthcare workers highlighted a shortage of skilled Saudi nationals.  Rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular issues, driven by urbanization and lifestyle changes, are straining resources. These issues necessitated a transformative approach to meet the needs of a growing population, projected to rise from 33.5 million in 2018 to 39.5 million by mid-2030, with the elderly population (60-79) increasing from 1.96 million to 4.63 million, requiring an additional 20,000 beds by 2035. Vision 2030’s Health Sector Transformation Program The Health Sector Transformation Program (HSTP), launched in 2021, is the flagship initiative under Vision 2030 for healthcare reform. It aims to create a comprehensive, effective, and integrated health system based on value-based care, transparency, and financial sustainability. Key objectives include: Easing access to healthcare services, targeting 88% coverage across the Kingdom by 2023. Improving the value of healthcare services through quality enhancements and cost control. Strengthening prevention against health threats, emphasizing public health, and disease prevention. Enhancing traffic safety, aiming to reduce road accident deaths to 5 per 100,000 people. Specific targets include increasing beneficiary satisfaction during hospitalization to 85.76%, ensuring 100% dissemination of unified digital medical records, and achieving 90% readiness of health areas to respond to health risks. The program prioritizes innovation,