The pharmacoeconomic picture in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the region and it is the largest oil producing country in the world. It is one of the few countries in the world which was not affected significantly by the global economic crisis. Health care spending is led mainly by governmental expenditure. Private sector share of the health care services is supported by the government and increasing. The demands for pharmaceutical products, medical devices and health care services is fueled by the rapidly growing population and the wide spread of chronic diseases. Publications and expertise in the field of pharmacoeconomics is scarce within the country. There is an urgent need to establish a national center for pharmacoeconomics to lead the country efforts in controlling the cost of health care services. Such a center is needed to promote pharmacoeconomics research and train health care professionals in this field.

Keywords::

• budget
• chronic diseases
• evidence-based medicine
• formulary
• healthcare insurance
• health system
• pharmaceutical market
• pharmacoeconomics
• Saudi Arabia

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Saudi Arabia is one of the largest countries in the Middle East and has one of the most lucrative healthcare markets in the region.

• Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest crude oil producing country, and its economy was minimally affected by the global economic crisis.

• The demands for healthcare services are increasing in the country as a result of the population growth coupled with the spread of chronic diseases.

• Pharmacoeconomic research and publications are scarce in the country.

• Majority of healthcare professionals working in the country are expatriates.

• Governmental healthcare spending represents the majority of healthcare expenditure within the country.

• The government is actively promoting more involvement of the private sector and medical insurance services in the provision of healthcare services.

• There is an urgent need to establish a National Center for Pharmacoeconomics to lead the country’s efforts in curtailing the increasing healthcare expenditure and to promote pharmacoeconomics research.

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