A Comparative Analysis of User Insights for E-Health Development Challenges in Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Implementation of e-health is expected to affect the outcomes of medical services positively, by contributing to the effectiveness and efficiency of overall healthcare ecosystem. This becomes more crucial in developing countries where access, finance, resources and competent professionals in healthcare are limited. This field study assesses healthcare professionals' insights, for the major challenges of ehealth development with a distinctive model and comparative analysis in four emerging countries; Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The research is conducted by user questionnaires and face to face interviews of healthcare professionals. Results indicate that information communication technology infrastructure, regulations, cultural and clinical adaptation of users, financing, supply chain management are some major challenges. Specially trust to e-business in healthcare, compliant use of big data in digital health and patient privacy play a key role for faster development of e-health.

Awareness of, beliefs about, practices of, and barriers to teledentistry among dental students and the implications for Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 and coronavirus pandemic

“…It was indicated that some countries, including Saudi Arabia, face many challenges with using telehealth in general, such as a general distrust of electronic business, privacy concerns, cultural factors, adoption by users, and technological infrastructure. [ 30 ] Also, a recent systematic review concluded that the e-health system in Saudi Arabia is growing thanks to the efforts of Vision 2030 and the goals planned for the year 2020, but the review also stated that these goals were not completely fulfilled. [ 31 ]…”

Evaluating the Readiness of Mobile Technology with Respect to e-Heath for Medication in Saudi Arabia: An Integrative Perspective

“…10 Similarly, e-health improves diagnosis and treatment, reduces waiting times, and facilitates diseases prevention and care coordination. 11 Though e-health has good prospects for providing improved health services and quality to people at a lower cost, its adoption and acceptance processes are not equally straightforward; in reality, understanding the acceptance or rejection of new information systems is regarded as a challenge in the field of information systems. 12 Regarding Saudi Arabia, it is a diverse and fast progressing country and its GDP was 0.3% in 2019.…”

Factors affecting sustainable adoption of e-health technology in developing countries: an exploratory survey of Nigerian hospitals from the perspective of healthcare professionals

“…A comparative analysis of four developing countries namely Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and United Arab Emirates was conducted by Uluc & Ferman (2016) to determine the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in using e-health technology. The study identified ICT infrastrucuture, policy regulations, clinical adaptation of users, healthcare financing, and supply chain management as the major challenges faced by the healthcare professionals.…”