Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s private sector is set to manage 17 university hospitals as the Health Ministry is continuing its privitisation programme of healthcare facilities, Arabian Business reported on Tuesday.
“The Tatweer Holding Company, which operates under the ministry, is now developing operational models to transform their ownership and management – with the choice of either absorbing employees from the Civil Service Ministry or recruiting their own staff,” Arabian Business added.
Scheduled to begin in the Eastern Province, followed by Riyadh and Makkah regions, the privatisation scheme will based around five healthcare firms covering all regions across the oil-rich nation.
The kingdom seeks to raise its hospitals’ performance by 25% over the coming three year through the new healthcare system.
The private healthcare firms are expected to start managing about third of the Saudi hospitals and health centres by 2020.
“A national purchase company will be established to ensure adequate supply of medicines and medical appliances to hospitals and health centres,” Arabian Business said.
On the other hand, Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah has approved the establishment of the first health complex in Makkah.
The complex will include four hospitals and 11 health centers under the supervision of a consultative council at King Abdullah Medical City.
