Saudi Arabia Cuts Bloodstream Infections by Almost Half in a Year, Says WHO
Saudi Arabia has reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) by 48.8% each year from 2021 to 2024. This means the infections have dropped to one-fourth of what they were in four years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Bloodstream Infections
The big decrease happened because Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health started a national plan in 2022 to fight bloodstream infections linked to central catheters, according to the WHO.
Other important steps that helped include strict infection prevention in hospitals, better diagnostic tools, and thorough training for healthcare workers.
WHO data showed that cases of bloodstream infections linked to central lines were very common in Saudi Arabia in 2021, especially in adult ICUs.
The WHO also reported a general drop in healthcare-related infections across the country. This success is linked to training over 5,000 healthcare workers in infection control, showing Saudi Arabia’s strong effort to improve healthcare safety and quality.
Progress in Healthcare
Saudi Arabia plans to spend $68.3 billion (SAR256 billion) on healthcare and social development in 2023, a 12.8% increase compared to last year, according to the Ministry of Finance. This is 35.2% more than the originally planned budget of $50.4 billion (SAR189 billion), mainly to support social protection programs.
Helmut Schuehsler, CEO of TVM Capital Healthcare, said that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its Health Sector Transformation Program are reshaping the healthcare industry. Key changes include a focus on digitization, privatization, and universal healthcare.
As part of Vision 2030, the Ministry of Health is shifting its role from providing healthcare to regulating it.
Developing medical cities is also a big part of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare plan. Facilities like King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh and King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah showcase the country’s major investments in infrastructure, modern technology, and advanced medical services.
Priority Sector
Saudi Arabia spends 60% of the total healthcare money in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Healthcare is a major focus for the government, according to the US International Trade Administration. In 2023, Saudi Arabia spent $50.4 billion on healthcare and social development, which was 16.96% of its total budget for the year. This was the second biggest spending category, just after education.
Published: 19th December 2024
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