Riyadh, April 2018: The National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) asserts that the privatization and public private partnerships (PPP) for all ten targeted sectors within the Vision 2030 and has direct support from the Crown Prince, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
NCP mentioned in a press release that the health sector’s privatization process is following the approved timeline set by the Privatization Supervisory Committee (PSC). The committee is chaired by the His Excellency the Minister of Health and its members include Their Excellences Minister of Finance, Chairman of the NCP Board. The first step is already underway, which is the establishment of a State Holding Company and five regional companies in order to promote institutional transformation and restructuring within the health sector.
PSC did a full scale study of the health sector, which produce nine different areas that would benefit from privatization and/or PPP. The areas include health centers development, hospital operations, new medical cities, radiology, rehabilitation and extended care, home care, laboratories, pharmacies, and health care logistics. Moreover, the study involved turning King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre to a not-for-profit organization working to advance specialized healthcare and medical research as well as enhance patient experience. The study also encompassed a governmental program to buy health services and insurances for Saudi citizens. The program’s principle is to pay for the results of the services provide to the state covered population in comparison to medical groups’ coverages.
NCP’s press release points out that when Vision 2030 targeted privatizing health care, it is to provide the best services and patient care as well as extending its reach and efficiency all over Saudi. With the advancement and the efficacy of the health care system, Saudi hopes to establish a competitive health care market, using best global practices and standards as well as offering sustainable work opportunities to all Saudi nationals.
