1. Can you share your perspective on the future of healthcare in Saudi Arabia, particularly in relation to the themes of privatisation, digitalisation, and development towards better health?

Working in healthcare currently is a non-stop changing environment. With the changing funding and drive to have an insurance-based healthcare delivery system it opens the door for many advancing technology changes. As society becomes more digitally reliant, we need to ensure that the demand for access to everything via the phone can be made possible. Many organizations now use telehealth as a way to reach patients and other organizations for expert opinions. The connectivity between the patients electronic record and the equipment used to treat them reduces time spent undertaking recording and documenting which allows for more interaction and addressing personal and supportive needs of patients.

Digitalisation will take time as not all areas have 220v electricity and many of the new equipment and changes require this, so to drive change and expected need the infrastructure set up also needs to be changed with the same speed. Mindfulness of change and its affect on all age groups needs to be remembered as change brings fear and can stall patients from undertaking or attending for treatment.
There is a downside to being fully digital if you do not have good manual backup systems look at the disaster with the recent Microsoft upgrade of their systems.

2. How do you define patient-centric development in the context of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system? What initiatives or strategies do you believe are crucial to achieving this? Why should the patient have a voice?

The culture of the nation is very family centered and transposing this into healthcare can be challenging at times. Developing services and service delivery that places the patient at the center is a multifaceted field and what works with one group of patients may not work with others until they see benefits. Bringing on board patient involvement in service transformation often highlights steps that as clinicians and administrators -unless we have been a patient highlights some priorities or needed steps in a different way or focus. The patients voice in meetings can be very powerful and insightful and helps decision makers to review all aspects not just those being driven by healthcare pracitioners.
Placing the Patient at the center of every change we make ensures that we are embracing patient centered care that can be built on to drive effective and efficient healthcare delivery and engage patients in the further development of healthcare services.

3. What role do you see technology and digital innovation playing in reshaping healthcare delivery and patient care in Saudi Arabia?

I think it has a big role and will change the known face of healthcare delivery over the coming years to a more effective and efficient delivery service but there is a downside and that is how you build in the human touch to address compassion, empathy and understanding and also ensure staff are trained in how to use other options if there is a major disruption or failure to a system.

Digitalization can help in ensuring compliance with areas of care such as hand hygiene and give results that patients can take assurance from, it will allow for effective costing of care and service delivery and reduce waste. There are many processes across healthcare that if monitored closely savings and changed practice could result in more efficiency.

4. In your opinion, what are the key challenges and opportunities associated with the ambitious healthcare goals outlined in Vision 2030?

Opportunity is to be the world leader for digitalized patient centered care delivery

5. Can you highlight any successful examples or case studies where patient-centric development strategies have been effectively implemented in Saudi Arabia or similar healthcare settings?

One conference I attended had a patient as a session moderator for a session and also patients came and told their stories which had a profound effect on the audience and many went away to implement steps to address the inconsistencies and failures occurring. The use of patient experience feedback helps in address parts of low performance but they do not address every aspect and we all need to walk in the steps of the patient. Undertake patient shadowing and observe and see the things the patients see.

6. As a speaker at the Saudi Healthcare Transformation Summit, what insights or messages do you hope to convey to the audience regarding the future of healthcare and patient-centric development in Saudi Arabia?

Embrace the change it will give you more in-depth understanding and reflection if you actively engage patients who use services in person, not just through questionnaires. Personal stories and experiences can make effective changes as well as stopping you from making decisions about change without full perspectives, because as healthcare practitioners and administrators we often forget the small things which can make the biggest change.