Saudi Healthcare Quality Index Reaches 70.4% in 2026

Saudi Arabia has recorded continued improvements in healthcare quality and efficiency, with the national healthcare quality index reaching 70.4% in 2026. The gains reflect a wide-ranging transformation of care delivery, safety standards, patient experience, and health outcomes across the Kingdom.

Geographical coverage of healthcare services has climbed to 97.4%, extending access for residents in more areas. Emergency response times have fallen sharply, dropping from 25 minutes in 2016 to 10 minutes in 2025. Health-cluster surgical capacity has roughly doubled from about 6,000 to 12,000 procedures each week, while the share of surgeries completed within standard timeframes rose from 60% to 90%.

What it means for residents

Government healthcare facilities provide free treatment for Saudi citizens, and medicines are dispensed free of charge at government facilities. Eligible prescriptions can also be collected through Wasfaty pharmacies. Non-Saudis working in the Kingdom are covered under the Cooperative Health Insurance Law and must hold health insurance.

Several services make care easier to reach. The number 937 is a free, round-the-clock Ministry of Health channel for medical consultations, complaints, reports, and health enquiries. Remote consultations are available through the Seha app and 937, while child-vaccination reminders are offered free of charge.

On the financing side, the Council of Health Insurance's current model focuses on strong health outcomes at optimal cost, rewarding quality of service rather than volume. The strategy relies on strategic purchasing, health-cost risk assessment, and restructuring of healthcare-provider networks — steps aimed at making services more sustainable while keeping quality high for the community.

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