A comparative study on the number of Hospitals and Hospital Beds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This paper focuses and analyses the distribution and growth of the number of hospitals and hospital beds in the Ministry of Health (MOH), Other Governmental Sector and Private healthcare sectors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the year 2002, 2009 and 2016. Objectives: To compare the number of hospitals and hospital beds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the years 2002, 2009, and 2016. Research Methods: It is a descriptive and comparative research study in which historical data was analysed (Library Research). Significance of Research: There is a growing demand of healthcare services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority has identified healthcare as a priority sectors for investment and nationalization for employment. Research Design: The number of hospitals and hospital beds in all the healthcare sectors of Saudi Arabia were compared for the year 2002, 2009 and 2016 and analysed by using the percentages. Study Population: This research is limited to the number of hospitals and hospital beds in all the healthcare sectors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the years 2002, 2009, and 2016. Data Collections: The data were collected from the annual reports of Ministry of Heath, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the years 2002, 2009 and 2016, relevant published journals, articles, research papers, academic literature and web portals. Conclusion: There is an increase in the number of hospitals in the Ministry of Health (MOH) by 40.51%; Other Governmental Sector by 12.82%; whereas in the Private Sector by 44.76%. Overall in total there is an increase in the total number of hospitals in all the healthcare sectors by 38.64% in the year 2016 as compared to the year 2002. On the other hand, there is an increase in the number of hospital beds in the Ministry of Health (MOH) by 46.68%; Other Governmental Sector by 20.59%; whereas in the Private Sector by 94.64%. Overall in total there is an increase in the total number of hospital beds in all the healthcare sectors by 50.48% in the year 2016 as compared to the year 2002. Hence, there are enormous opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the investment of international and national entrepreneurs and employment for Saudi nationals in the lucrative healthcare service industry.