Saudi Arabia ranks amongst highest in healthcare efficiency as per the Future Health Index
- Jul 8, 2018
- 5 minute read
At a glance
Saudi Arabia scores 44.17 in efficiency, as compared to the 16 country average of 26.69
Results indicate areas for integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in healthcare
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, released the first chapter of three 2018 Future Health Index (FHI), a research-based platform designed to help determine the readiness of 16 countries1 in addressing health challenges and building efficient and effective health systems.
According to the results, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia scores amongst the highest in efficiency, as compared to the 16-country overall average. An efficiency score of 44.17 is particularly strong, rising over 17 points above the average, and coming in just after Singapore at 50.11, indicating healthcare spend is being effectively utilized in relevance to health outcomes2.
Overall satisfaction with the healthcare system is 10 points above average on the index, with more room for growth. Healthcare professionals are more satisfied with the level of care offered, than the general population in Saudi Arabia (66.18 vs. 59.32). This is driven by their higher levels of trust in the healthcare system compared to the general population (80% vs. 62%).
Within the value measure, the only metric to fall below the 16-country average is access to healthcare, which is mainly caused by the below-average skilled healthcare professional density and the low number of hospital beds.
The FHI index identifies and measures important healthcare system markers that will pave way into the future, integrating technologies across the health continuum. This will help in advancing the healthcare infrastructure and systems to move away from a volume-based measure of healthcare to a value-based one
Ozlem Fidanci
A new value indicator
Value-based healthcare is the latest thinking in healthcare that describes a system that aims to increase access to care and improve patient outcomes at lower cost. Designed as people-centric, it is about providing the right care at the right time, in the right place and at the right level of cost. Five factors are used as indicators of success in a value-based healthcare system:
- Access: Securing universal access to healthcare
- Outcomes: Driving better healthcare outcomes
- Costs: Reducing costs and waste
- Satisfaction: Ensuring HCP satisfaction
- Experience: Improving patient experience
The FHI analyzes data from across 16 countries, representing about half of the world’s population. This year it introduced the Value Measure, a new indicator of the value delivered by healthcare systems of developed and developing markets.Combining criteria associated with value-based healthcare:
- Access – how universal and affordable is access to healthcare?
- Satisfaction – to what extent does the general population and healthcare professionals see their healthcare system as trustworthy and effective?
- Efficiency – does the system produce positive outcomes at an optimum cost?
These criteria termed as theValue Measure in the index, provide a benchmark against which a healthcare system’s progress towards efficient and effective healthcare can be evaluated.
This methodology builds on the fast-growing consensus that the value-based healthcare model is the best approach to address the challenges posed by a combination of growing and aging populations with the rise of chronic diseases and healthcare costs.
The role of technology
The FHI primarily focuses on the crucial role that technologies for connected care and digital tools can play in delivering more integrated and sustainable healthcare in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s current state of data analytics indicates there is room for further implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the patient journey.
Saudi Arabia has made some investments in data collection; however, there is still a need for growth as the country falls below the 16-country average across data collection & analytics metrics. 92% of healthcare professionals and 75% the general population believe that technological integration would make the quality of care better.
Fidanci closed by adding, “The index results confirm the Kingdom’s e-health strategy is a pivotal pillar in the future for improving and managing people’s health. The FDI offers a meaningful measure that helps countries like the Kingdom to identify their immediate needs and readiness for artificial intelligence tools and similar to be a part of the patient journey.”
Notes to the editor
16 countries1
(Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US.
KSA results tabulated2
VALUE MEASURE 2018
Value Measure: | Saudi Arabia 50.17 | 16-Country Average 43.48 |
|---|---|---|
| Access: | 43.59 | 50.91 |
| Satisfaction: | 62.75 | 52.85 |
| Efficiency (spend on healthcare/outcomes): | 44.17 | 26.69 |
CURRENT STATE: DATA COLLECTION & ANALYTICS
Overall score: | Saudi Arabia 13.61 | 16-Country Average 31.03 |
|---|---|---|
| Data collection (EHRs & wearables): | 13.34 | 28.57 |
| Data analytics (AI): | 14.42 | 38.39 |
CURRENT STATE: CARE DELIVERY
Overall score: | Saudi Arabia 10.00 | 16-Country Average 22.41 |
|---|---|---|
| Telehealth: | 13.51 | 25.52 |
| Diagnostic & treatment solutions (imaging, IGT and assisted surgery): | 6.50 | 19.31 |
The next two chapters of the 2018 FHI will take a closer look at two digital enablers, which have the potential to significantly drive change through connected care technologies:
- Data collection and analytics i.e. the ability to share and collect patient centric data and analyze it on a large scale
- Care delivery i.e. technology developments which are bringing innovative ways to deliver better care
To download the first chapter of the 2018 FHI report in its entirety, please visit [insert link to download report]. For additional Future Health Index related content, please visit https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/future-health-index.html.
