Sheerah Haytham A, Brazanji Nora A, Al-Zahrani Fahad A, Muammar Nouf Bin, AlBassam Abdulatif M, Alfaya Mansour A, Aldosaimani Abdulmajeed, Alshahrani Najim Z, Alosaimi Majed, Almaziad Sultan, AlZunitan Mohammed A, Farahat Fayssal M, Alshamrani Majid M
The Advisory Office, Minister of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Administration of Community Health for Primary Healthcare, Third Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2025 Apr 3;15(1):51. doi: 10.1007/s44197-025-00394-x.
Travel medicine is a rapidly evolving field essential for addressing the health needs of travelers and managing the public health challenges associated with globalization, mass gatherings, and emerging infectious diseases. In Saudi Arabia, the significance of travel medicine is heightened by its unique status as a destination for millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims annually and its growing role as a global tourism and entertainment hub. However, the country faces a critical shortage of specialists to address travel-related health issues. This article highlights the need to establish a Travel Medicine Diploma in Saudi Arabia. The proposed program would equip healthcare workers with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills, including epidemiology, vaccination strategies, risk assessment, and post-travel care. Expected benefits include improved public health preparedness, enhanced healthcare services for travelers, and strengthened global health diplomacy. Despite professional hesitancy and funding limitations, these can be addressed through financial incentives, partnerships, and integrating travel medicine into medical education. By investing in this initiative, Saudi Arabia can not only meet its domestic healthcare needs but also position itself as a regional leader in travel medicine, contributing to the health and safety of travelers worldwide.
旅行医学是一个快速发展的领域，对于满足旅行者的健康需求以及应对与全球化、大型集会和新发传染病相关的公共卫生挑战至关重要。在沙特阿拉伯，旅行医学的重要性因以下因素而更加凸显：它每年作为数百万朝觐和副朝朝圣者的目的地的独特地位，以及其作为全球旅游和娱乐中心的作用日益增强。然而，该国面临着解决与旅行相关健康问题的专家严重短缺的情况。本文强调了在沙特阿拉伯设立旅行医学文凭的必要性。拟议的项目将使医护人员具备全面的知识和实践技能，包括流行病学、疫苗接种策略、风险评估和旅行后护理。预期效益包括改善公共卫生防备、加强对旅行者的医疗服务以及强化全球卫生外交。尽管存在专业上的迟疑和资金限制，但可以通过财政激励、伙伴关系以及将旅行医学纳入医学教育来加以解决。通过对这一举措进行投资，沙特阿拉伯不仅能够满足其国内医疗需求，还能将自身定位为旅行医学领域的区域领导者，为全球旅行者的健康与安全做出贡献。
