JEDDAH, 13 January 2004 — The two-day Saudi-German health care workshop ended here yesterday with the visiting 30-member German delegation becoming aware of the vast opportunities available in the Kingdom.
“There will be plenty of opportunities for overseas participants, especially German experts and companies, to take advantage of the situation arising out of the privatization of government hospitals. The scope can also extend to private hospitals which are near completion or are being planned, and to human resource development through education and training,” Mutasim M.Y.Z. Alireza, managing director of Magrabi Hospitals and Centers, said.
The workshop was organized by the Saudi-German Business Group and hosted by Saudi German Hospital Group (SGHG).
Alireza, who gave an overview of the private sector’s role in Saudi health care, said, “Saudi businessmen are always looking for opportunities to set up joint manufacturing facilities with international partners. The expected startup and boom in the health care insurance business will undoubtedly provide a perfect opportunity for overseas insurance companies to invest in their local counterparts or cooperate with them.”
He said, “With the Kingdom recording a high population growth rate, demand for health care facilities will continue to rise. This is already reflected in the periodically held health care expos.”
The Kingdom has a total of 320 hospitals — Ministry of Health 188, private sector 93 and other government agencies 39 — providing 50,000 beds. The new budgetary allocation for the sector is $6.5 billion.
While the Kingdom is awaiting its compulsory health insurance scheme, which is to be implemented in different stages, the move will regulate the registration of insurance companies here for the first time.
He mentioned the lead taken by the SGHG and Magrabi Hospitals & Centers to construct new facilities across the Kingdom.
Mohammed H. Mufti, CEO at the Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh and senior consultant at Mashura Healthcare Consulting, speaking on the role of the government sector in health care, said cost containment, financing, efficiency and Saudization were among the challenges facing the Kingdom.
Mufti and other speakers impressed on the need for Germany to concentrate on offering its expertise, experience, investment and technology to the Kingdom and assist in the implementation of heath insurance.
They also had one-to-one meetings with local businessmen and experts.
