Saudi Arabia is in the Middle East, with over 36 million population. The country’s population is proliferating, and it is expected to have over 39 million people by 2030 (Alharbi, Alzuwaed & Qasem, 2021). As the population grows the in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the demand for healthcare continues to rise, thus; the country needs extra efforts and resources to meet its healthcare needs. Saudi Arabia has dramatically focused on improving its healthcare to increase efficiency, although access to healthcare remains challenging due to patients’ demographic and geographical considerations. This paper will assess the geographical and demographic factors limiting Saudi Arabia residents and citizens from accessing healthcare services and explore the educational strategies required to address the challenges by supporting Saudi Arabia’s mission and vision for 2030 to benefit patients, healthcare providers, and organizations.
Challenges of Providing Access to Healthcare in Saudi Arabia
Patient demographics
Patient demographics are one of the factors posing a significant challenge in accessing health care in Saudi Arabia. One of the patient demographic aspects leading to this challenge is increased diversity. Saudi Arabia’s population contains many expatriates from all over the world, increasing diversity. Usually, people from different cultural backgrounds differ in language and health practices. Therefore, the language barrier is one of the challenges resulting from a diversified population limiting access to healthcare. Medical professionals and patients who do not have a common language have a difficult time communicating when providing healthcare services, as it is because difficult for patients to fully express their medical needs and challenging for healthcare professionals to understand and offer the best care possible (Al Shamsi et al., 2020). At the same time, the country has yet to advance in cultural responsiveness fully, so medical professionals are culturally trained to understand all patients. Another problem with increased diversities in Saudi Arabia is different healthcare practices. Different cultures have unique cultural beliefs that influence their treatment preferences. Therefore, medical professionals in Saudi Arabia mostly understand the cultural importance of different people whose native country is Saudi Arabia and less of other cultures (Al Shamsi et al., 2020). Some cultural backgrounds for people living in Saudi Arabia have stereotypes about certain treatment types, which healthcare professionals find best for patients. For example, some cultures are against blood transfusion, which, in some cases, is the only option medical professionals have to save their lives. Also, some cultures do not believe in seeking medical treatment for illnesses but think people should pray for healing.
Another patient demographic factor affecting the accessibility of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia is poverty. Significant economic disparities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affect access to healthcare services amidst a large population. A considerable population living im Saudi Arabia lives in poverty, which makes them prioritize basic needs such as shelter, food, and clothing basic needs and forego medical treatment. Firstly, due to inadequate income, individuals need more funds to pay for insurance or out of pocket (Rahman, 2020). At the same time, healthcare costs continue to rise, prohibiting individuals from social and economic classes from affording healthcare. As a result, individuals do not seek medical help for checkups, treatments, or appointments, leading to worse health outcomes. Individuals who do not seek timely care give their conditions a chance to worsen and only seek medical help when the diseases get out of hand. At this time, maintenance is a venue more expensive since the patients require complex medical interventions, and in most cases, they need help to afford to pay; hence their medical bills end up being bad debts.
The country’s high prevalence of chronic illnesses is another personal demographic factor affecting access to healthcare services. A high Saudi Arabian population suffers from heart disease, cancers, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Chronic diseases are a severe issue in the country, making up 70% of deaths. High chronic illnesses affect access to healthcare services because treating the diseases requires ongoing care rather than a one-time treatment. At the same time, the population is mobile and has disappeared in diverse regions since 60% comprises young adults under 30 years who are still working (Aboalshamat, 2020). As a result, chronic illness prevalence continues to rise, creating a significant healthcare burden to take management and preventative strategies to reduce the impact of the disease. Also, the diseases are less significant in the early stages of young adulthood as individuals seem healthier. Still, as they grow older and chronic illnesses worsen, there gets a need to have more medical professionals as the demand for healthcare services increases.
Geographical considerations
Geographic considerations also affect access to healthcare in different ways in Saudi Arabia. One geographical aspect that limits health care is that Saudi Arabia is a large country; thus, providing adequate healthcare centers in rural areas has been challenging. Typically, some people live in very remote locations such that they do not have easy access to the healthcare center. In most cases, they must travel to seek medical help, and transport to the facilities is also challenging (Alharbi et al., 2021). In rural areas of Saudi Arabia, road infrastructure is yet to develop hence facilitating transport is an issue. This primarily affects patients with limited mobility, such as those with physical disabilities or pregnant women, and those who require emergency medical attention from accidents at home, making it difficult for them to receive timely care.
Another geographical aspect that limits residents’ and citizens’ access to healthcare services is that the healthcare systems in urban centers are centrally populated. At the same time, the population density is high. Typically, people prefer to live in urban centers because most expatriates venture into a business that does well in urban mares only. As a result, healthcare facilities are overcrowded due to many people seeking healthcare from the surrounding population, limiting the capacity for all individuals to access care (Asmri et al., 2020). Also, overcrowding facilities cause the transmission of diseases across the population, increasing the number of people seeking medical help daily. Furthermore, the concentration of healthcare facilities in urban areas can exacerbate healthcare disparities, as patients in rural areas may need more access to specialized medical services.
Patient Education Strategies
Patient education is an effective strategy that can help overcome challenges limiting people living in Saudi Arabia from accessing healthcare services. Patient-based interventions are essential because they will help patients actively manage their health for improved health outcomes so that the demand for healthcare services is reasonable (Asmri et al., 2020). Also, this will make it easier for healthcare providers to improve access to healthcare and reduce healthcare disparities.
One of the patient education strategies is offering health literacy programs. A prominent Saudi Arabian population comes from diverse cultural backgrounds with limited literacy about health. This makes it difficult for such individuals to understand their health, make informed decisions about treatment options, and inability to adhere to medication instructions (Asmri et al., 2020). However, health literacy programs that can be offered through social media platforms, campaigns, schools, and health centers will improve patients’ understanding of their health information, including the need for disease prevention by offering disease management programs, health promotion by going for regular checkups and empower them to make informed decisions about their health.
Another patient education strategy is outreach initiatives. Outreach initiatives can effectively reach residents and citizens living in Saudi Arabia’s rural areas to provide them with education and make transportation services to healthcare centers readily available (Asmri et al., 2020). Public health agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizers can arrange for health talks and hold health affairs remotely. Also, since people living in rural areas may find distances to hospitals huge for checkups and screening, they should be organized for health screening services remotely regularly so that diseases are detected early and interventions employed to manage a condition before it progresses into unmanageable levels.
Telehealth services are another patient education strategy to address the personal demographic and geographic considerations affecting access to healthcare services. Telemedicine is emerging as a potential solution to improve access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare facilities (AlBar & Hoque, 2019). Due to advantaged technology, patients in rural areas can have remote consultations, diagnosis, and treatment through telemedicine, so they do not have to visit hospitals physically. Therefore to facilitate the practicality of this intervention, individuals living in rural areas, especially older adults, should be educated about using devices such as telephones and laptops to communicate with healthcare providers when seeking medical help.
Also, patient navigation programs are effective patient education programs to improve Saudi Arabia residents’ access to healthcare services. The programs aim at helping connect with appropriate healthcare systems based on the resources they need (Rahman, 2020). Usually, new patients or those with complex health needs may need to be sure of facilities to get their needs hence may save time and resources visiting facilities that might not be helpful. However, with these programs, a patient navigator can work with a patient to assess their healthcare needs and help them find a suitable healthcare facility, schedule an appointment, educate them about treatment options, and help them understand their coverage choice.
Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030
The Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 is a comprehensive plan to improve the country’s diversity and competitiveness. The plan outlines the government’s long-term goals based on three pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation (Aboalshamat, 2020). The healthcare sector is one of the areas focused on transforming by increasing accessibility by all individuals, promoting a healthy lifestyle among the population, and providing quality healthcare services. Therefore, the personal education strategy is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 because the practices support achieving the vision. Firstly, using telehealth will help with increased accessibility of healthcare services, even for people living in rural areas. Health literacy problems will promote a healthy lifestyle among Saudi Arabian individuals. Patient navigation and outreach initiatives will help people acquire quality services.
Benefits to Saudi Patients, Healthcare Organizations, and Healthcare Providers
One of the ways the patient education strategies will have crucial benefits to Saudi patients, healthcare organizations, and healthcare providers. One of the benefits is improved healthcare outcomes. The education will empower people to be responsible for their health as they will know how to prevent the development of chronic illness, manage diseases and lead a healthy lifestyle (AlBar & Hoque, 2019). Another benefit is reduced healthcare costs. By taking preventative measures to prevent infections, people will remain healthy, and also, by health screening services, diseases can be diagnosed enough for early treatment spending less. Increased access to healthcare is another benefit of patient education programs, as telehealth services will allow people to access health services at home.
In conclusion, patient demographics and geographical concerns in Saudi Arabia pose a complex challenge to accessing health care. Due to diversity, high prevalence of chronic diseases, poverty, inadequate facilities in rural areas, and overcrowding of healthcare facilities in urban areas, Saudi Arabia needs more access to healthcare. However, patient education programs will address this challenge by offering health literacy programs, telehealth services, patient navigation programs, and outreach services which align with Saudi Vision 2030. As a result, healthcare costs will be reduced, increased accessibility to services, and improved patient outcomes.
References
Alharbi, A., Alzuwaed, J., & Qasem, H. (2021). Evaluation of e-health (Seha) application: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 21(1), 1-9. https://bmcmedinformdecismak.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12911-021-01437-6
AlBar, A. M., & Hoque, M. R. (2019). Patient acceptance of e-health services in Saudi Arabia: an integrative perspective. Telemedicine and e-Health, 25(9), 847-852. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2018.0107
Asmri, M. A., Almalki, M. J., Fitzgerald, G., & Clark, M. (2020). The public health care system and primary care services in Saudi Arabia: a system in transition. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 26(4), 468-476. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/232129/
Rahman, R. (2020). The privatization of health care system in Saudi Arabia. Health services insights, 13, 1178632920934497. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1178632920934497
Aboalshamat, K. T. (2020). Awareness of, beliefs about, practices of, and barriers to teledentistry among dental students and the implications for Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 and coronavirus pandemic. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 10(4), 431. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7523925/
Al Shamsi, H., Almutairi, A. G., Al Mashrafi, S., & Al Kalbani, T. (2020). Implications of language barriers for healthcare: a systematic review. Oman medical journal, 35(2), e122. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7201401/
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