Around 16 million Saudis, including government workers, students and unemployed persons, do not have private medical insurance, according to Health Minister Adel Fakeih.

Only the 2.7 million Saudis who work in the private sector are covered by insurance, meaning the majority of citizens are not.

Fakeih nevertheless described the health insurance sector as “widening” based on figures alluding to uninsured expats.

The Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and the Shoura Council presented the health minister with several suspended files, including the five medical cities that have been ordered by King Abdullah at a cost of SR16 billion.

“There are 9.7 million insured people in the Kingdom, of whom 2.7 million are Saudis,” said Fakeih.

“There are 28 approved insurance companies and eight claims companies, in addition to 2,404 health care centers.”

The Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) will apply new regulations on all insurance policies by July 1.