Increase in Spending in Health Services

RIYADH, 21 August 2005 — Economic experts estimated the total amount to be spent on health services in the Kingdom up to 2019 will reach SR54 billion per annum, compared with current spending at SR30 billion a year, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported. The ministry of health owns 45 percent of medical establishments, 36 percent belong to other government departments and 19 percent to the private sector. The estimation for government spending on health sector for the year 2019 was based on the average annual increase of the Health Ministry budget in the past ten years.