10 Health Clusters Transferred to Health Holding Company

Saudi Living reports that the Council of Economic and Development Affairs has reviewed the progress of the national health transformation plan, which includes the transfer of 10 health clusters from the Ministry of Health to the Health Holding Company (HHC).

The plan sets out the steps needed to complete the Ministry of Health's shift into a regulatory and supervisory role over the health sector, while direct service provision moves to HHC and its clusters. The transformation aims to strengthen prevention, improve the quality and accessibility of care, and enhance the patient experience — supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals, including raising life expectancy to 80 years.

What it means for residents

As of 2026, 20 health clusters have been launched across the Kingdom under the first phase of the transformation. Each cluster groups primary care centers, public hospitals, and specialized services into an integrated regional network designed to serve around one million people. HHC has stressed that free treatment for all Saudi citizens in public facilities will continue despite the transfer of assets and staff.

The staff transfer linked to the 10 clusters has reached more than 130,000 employees over two phases, with acceptance rates exceeding 99% among eligible Ministry of Health staff. The first phase covered the Riyadh Second, Eastern Region, and Qassim clusters, while the second phase included Al Ahsa, Taif, Najran, Hail, Tabuk, Northern Borders, and Hafar Al-Batin. The Qassim Health Cluster was fully ready to transition to HHC as of 1 January 2026.

All public health assets, financial obligations, and related rights are being transferred to HHC or its subsidiaries, and the National Health Insurance Center is mandated to purchase health services from them. HHC reported disbursing over SAR 2 billion in transition-related payments. By 2027, all 20 clusters are expected to complete their transition to full operational status under HHC.

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