Department of Health Services and Hospitals Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
PLoS One. 2024 Sep 9;19(9):e0301918. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301918. eCollection 2024.
This study examines the 2022 distribution of primary healthcare centers across Saudi Arabia's 20 regions, focusing on disparities and healthcare accessibility.
A quantitative analysis of the Ministry of Health's data was conducted. Primary healthcare centers distribution was evaluated by calculating the number of primary healthcare centers per 100,000 population across different administrative regions.
The study uncovered regional disparities, with the PHCs-per-100,000-people ratio showing significant variance. Regions like Riyadh had an above-average ratio with 7.5 PHCs-per-100,000-people, while Jeddah lagged behind with a concerning 3.2 PHCs-per-100,000-people despite being a populous city. The PHC-per-capita ratio declined to 6.6 in 2022 from 8.0 in 2017. The data also revealed that the Eastern Province showed an increase in the number of primary healthcare centers.
Disparities in the distribution of primary healthcare centers in 2022 highlight a critical need for equitable healthcare access across Saudi Arabia. Many regions require increased primary healthcare center allocation to match population needs. The findings underscore the urgency of integrating these insights into policy frameworks to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, emphasizing the development of a sustainable and equitable healthcare system.
Policymakers need to consider these disparities to guide the strategic placement of primary healthcare centers and ensure an equitable healthcare system. This study provides a basis for targeted policy interventions to improve healthcare equity and prepare the health system for future demographic and epidemiological transitions.
本研究考察了 2022 年沙特阿拉伯 20 个地区的基层医疗中心分布情况，重点关注差异和医疗保健可及性。
对卫生部的数据进行了定量分析。通过计算不同行政区每 10 万人的基层医疗中心数量来评估基层医疗中心的分布情况。
研究揭示了地区差异，每 10 万人拥有的基层医疗中心比例存在显著差异。例如，利雅得地区的比例较高，每 10 万人拥有 7.5 个基层医疗中心，而人口众多的吉达市则相对较低，每 10 万人仅有 3.2 个基层医疗中心。2022 年每千人的基层医疗中心比例从 2017 年的 8.0 下降到 6.6。数据还显示，东部省的基层医疗中心数量有所增加。
2022 年基层医疗中心分布不均突出表明沙特阿拉伯需要公平获得医疗保健，许多地区需要增加基层医疗中心的分配，以满足人口需求。研究结果强调需要将这些见解纳入政策框架，以实现 2030 年愿景的目标，强调建立一个可持续和公平的医疗保健系统。
政策制定者需要考虑这些差异，以指导基层医疗中心的战略布局，确保公平的医疗保健系统。本研究为有针对性的政策干预提供了依据，以改善医疗保健公平性，并为医疗保健系统未来的人口和流行病学转变做好准备。
