Saudi Arabias Health Minister outlined key features of the National Insurance program emphasizing its unique aspects

Saudi Arabia intends to provide universal, publicly paid insurance coverage for all of its people by 2026, according to proposals unveiled on Sunday by Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel. Al-Jalajel listed the salient characteristics of the National Insurance programme, highlighting its distinct qualities, such its lifelong coverage guaranteed by state funding and the absence of an annual renewal need.

The National Insurance would streamline the procedure for beneficiaries by doing away with the need for prior permissions and having no set ceiling. Speaking to a worldwide gathering at the Riyadh Health Forum, the minister predicted that private health insurance will increase five times over the next several years. It is anticipated that a growing number of visitors, people with premium residence, and population growth would be the main drivers of this increase.

Al-Jalajel claims that the goal of the health sector's change is to serve a larger population while giving the private sector more room and control. He believes that by 2020, the private sector will account for 50% of health care delivery. In addition, the minister revealed profitable investment prospects in the healthcare industry, projecting a total of SR330 billion until 2030.

A major restructuring of the industry is indicated by the transfer of all health clusters from the Health Ministry to the Health Holding Company starting in 2024. He projected that the GDP contribution of the health sector would rise significantly, reaching SR318 billion in 2030, of which SR145 billion would come from the private sector.In the next phases of the growth of healthcare, Al-Jalajel emphasised the critical role that integration and collaboration with the private sector will play.