Saudi Arabia is pushing to accelerate the privatization of the health sector, as an integral part of the programs of Vision 2030.
In this context, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a Royal Decree on Tuesday, transforming the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center into an independent nonprofit institution.
The move is part of a comprehensive transformation program that aims to develop the facility to become one of the best health centers in the world.
“The transformation aims to develop the hospital’s services, capacity and research production in a sustainable manner,” according to Fahd Al-Rasheed, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Specialized Hospital.
“Transforming the hospital and research center into an independent, nonprofit institution is a major enabler for the transformation journey that the hospital is going through, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030…”
For his part, Dr. Majid Al-Fayyadh, Chief Executive Officer of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center noted that huge efforts would be undertaken to improve the institution’s efficiency and productivity.
He added that during the transformation journey, all hospital services would remain available, and the hospital and center staff would lead the transformation into a nonprofit entity.
The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, which started its operation in 1975, is one of the most important Saudi institutions that provide the highest level of specialized health care in an integrated educational and research environment.
The hospital is the first center outside the United States accredited by the Society of Pediatric Oncology, which is one of the most prominent medical institutions in this field at the global level.
The hospital achieved 60 percent of the total liver transplants performed in Saudi Arabia. In each of its branches located in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Madinah, the hospital has more than 2,500 beds. In research participation, the Research Center has published more than 500 research papers in many international medical journals.