National health insurance system for universal health coverage: prospects and challenges in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Universal health coverage (UHC) is one of the major health policy objectives to achieve a Nation’s sustainable development. This goal is achieved when all citizens in the country enjoy the highest standards of healthcare at no or low cost. Many countries around the world have achieved UHC through a national health insurance framework and have an extensive range of risks funded by government revenue and contributions from both employers and employees. This study examines the feasibility of developing a National Health Insurance System (NHIS) as a way to achieve UHC in Saudi Arabia. It also highlights the potential role of health insurance in health coverage, improving the quality of care, and use of healthcare. Although establishing a NHIS poses many challenges, addressing them makes it feasible to provide and finance healthcare in the country.

Knowledge, perception, and attitudes of Universal Health Coverage policies among Alfaisal University students in Saudi Arabia

“…Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is achieved when a country can provide all its population with effective and sufficient health services of appropriate quality while preventing people from utilizing these services from falling into financial hardship. [ 1 2 3 ] UHC is a major positive factor in the sustainable development of social, economic, and environmental factors. [ 4 ] Different policies and strategies are deployed all over the world to implement UHC sparking a yet to be settled debate on the best method to achieve it.…”

“…[ 8 ] The Saudi government provides a comprehensive list of free public health services to its citizens to comply with article 31 of its constitution, which states that health is a protected right for all. [ 3 9 10 ] Saudi Arabia, faced by the ever-growing private sector and resident population, introduced the cooperative health insurance system in 1999 and the Cooperative Health Insurance Act of 2003, which started the mandatory health insurance system in 2006 aiming to provide health coverage to this population. [ 3 10 11 ] Saudi Arabia aims to achieve UHC by a combination of free public healthcare and mandatory cooperative health insurance covering its entire population of residents and nationals.…”

“…[ 3 10 11 ] Saudi Arabia aims to achieve UHC by a combination of free public healthcare and mandatory cooperative health insurance covering its entire population of residents and nationals. [ 3 7 ]…”

“…Saudi Arabia has faced many difficulties in achieving UHC mainly due to the public health sector's inefficient use of resources, poor quality, and abuse of services in addition to an increase in demand for higher quality services that lead to a spiraling nonsustainable surge of cost. [ 3 10 ] To mitigate these problems, Saudi Arabia's health system is going through a change as part of its 2030 vision to provide free public health-care services through national health insurance. [ 3 9 ]…”

“…[ 3 10 ] To mitigate these problems, Saudi Arabia's health system is going through a change as part of its 2030 vision to provide free public health-care services through national health insurance. [ 3 9 ]…”