The good and the better, how do we compare with international systems
Ahmed Alamry, MD, MHA, FRCPC I ?.???? ???????
CEO | Senior Executive | Boards Member | Leadership & Management | Systems Improvement & Transformation | Building a better sustainable future for all
Building on the previous posts (Reform Plans, Challenges and Potentials), in this post, I will expand on how the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia is compared to the top international healthcare systems. It is by no mean an academic comparison, it is only trying to address the gap in term of resources, and explore the issues of does resources equal to quality?
As a recap from previous post, this table outline some of resources ratios comparing the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia with that of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries average
The Commonwealth Fund (TCF) publish a recent report that includes data from 11 countries. It incorporates patients’ and physicians’ survey results on care experiences and ratings on various dimensions of care. It also includes information on health care outcomes featured in TCF's most recent (2011) national health system scorecard, and from the WHO and the OECD. The ranking of the healthcare systems is based on Quality of Care, Access, Efficiency, and Equity among other variables and it is summarizes in the following figure:
If we take simple ratios and compare top systems to that of the Saudi healthcare system, then differences could be highlighted, and potential areas of improvement may become clearer. The following table highlight some of those gaps using simple healthcare resources ratios:
It is clear that we have a huge nursing workforce issues, and to a lesser degree physicians density and hospital beds ratios. Its also clear that I am not trying to draw a linkage between resources numbers only and how the healthcare system preform in term of providing a better health for the individuals and public. There are many factors to be considered, like integration of healthcare services, population coverage, chronic and acute disease management, primary care, and public health interventions.
With the new reform of the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, the drive for privatization and insurance, I hope you find this post helpful , and it could form a ground of discussion among healthcare leaders, professionals, and interested individuals. Please leave a comment, and if you like it, like it and share
Human Capital Consultant
8 年Thank you Dr. Ahmed for this informative and interesting post. My intervention is two folds: in terms of the comparative data and in particular shortage of nurses, Saudi has always been dependent on nursing from the Philippines, but around 15 years ago the western world became interested in this market, as the nursing profession was experiencing, and still is, a shortfall. As a result, more Philippino nurses were using Saudi as a bridge, spending only two years and taking off to the west and the experienced ones were going to the west directly from their home-country. The Saudi society however, still has a long way to go in terms of accepting nursing as a profession, I believe that a great deal of awareness needs to be done as well as media intervention to publicly improve the image of the profession. My second point is primary care, I’m very much in favour of introducing primary care as a first health screening visit as it’s not always necessary to visit a Specialty clinic for a minor medical problem such as cold or flu. My last point is answering your question whether or not resources equal quality? My answer is not always; quality resources equals quality, as one competent professional is certainly better than two or three mediocre staff. My humble opinion:)?
14 yrs exp in US Healthcare (Payor) in a 20 yr career as a BA, QA Lead, QA Developer, and Tech Writer. Available for work immediately as a Senior BA. Remote Only.
8 年When a system is being implemented newly, there might be a great deal of study of the current systems in different countries, their best practices, problem areas n concerns. Brainstorming can help find the aspects applicable to Saudi. Would be great if you included India too in your comparison.
Pediatrics - "neuroimmune" - Special Needs Children
8 年As long as all international system miss that most of these ASD children today are a medical "phenotype" (see posting April 1) of a disease, not real autism. . NO medical system is doing a good job today. /mjg
Certified Nursing Assistant
8 年Thank you for sharing this article. I appreciate being able to see how other countries are handling their medical systems. As a US citizen and medical professional I agree with Haifa in that in your particular situation privitzation and insurance will only hinder your progress. The NHS in the UK is a good set up but there are other systems that are as viable and work. I say explore some more and see what the needs of the people and the medical staffers are first then make an action plan.