Philips Study: Saudi Arabia Leads in Healthcare Technology Adoption
Saudi Arabian healthcare leaders are focused on making a positive environmental impact, adopting virtual care technologies and remote monitoring.
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, has released the ninth edition of its Future Health Index (FHI) 2024 report, focusing on Saudi Arabia. Based on insights from nearly 3,000 healthcare leaders across 14 countries, the report underscores Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in adopting AI-enabled innovations to enhance patient care.
AI and Automation: Transforming Healthcare in Saudi Arabia
The report highlights the Saudi healthcare sector’s cutting-edge adoption of AI and automation. A remarkable 92% of Saudi Arabian healthcare leaders believe automation is crucial for addressing staff shortages by streamlining repetitive tasks and processes. Key areas of progress include digitizing health records, automating administrative tasks, and implementing clinical workflow management systems to boost staff productivity and satisfaction.
“This year’s Future Health Index investigates the significant progress and promising opportunities in ensuring timely, high-quality care for all,” says Akram Sirafy, General Manager, Philips Saudi Arabia. “The report highlights the strides taken in the ongoing transformation of the healthcare sector, which is crucial for the well-being of our population and for positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in healthcare and innovation.”
Virtual Care: A Game-Changer for Staffing and Patient Engagement
Virtual care is transforming healthcare delivery in Saudi Arabia, with 100% of healthcare leaders acknowledging its positive impact on alleviating staffing pressures. Additionally, 90% report that patients are optimistic about virtual care. Benefits include better staff support for complex cases (37%), improved appointment attendance (34%), expanded career options for remote healthcare professionals (34%), and increased capacity to serve patients (33%).
Data Integration: Unlocking the Potential of AI and Insights
Despite advancements, 100% of Saudi Arabian healthcare leaders recognize that data integration challenges hinder care delivery. They emphasize the potential of data-driven insights to optimize treatment plans, reduce waiting times, forecast patient demand, and identify best practices. These insights are also critical for detecting medical conditions and reducing hospital readmissions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
“To realize these possibilities, healthcare leaders are looking to partnerships to overcome system limitations,” says Sirafy. “Improving care coordination and enhancing technology integration and interoperability are among the top drivers for collaboration, to realise a more structured and innovative form of healthcare.”
Generative AI: Leading the Global Adoption Curve
Saudi healthcare leaders are embracing generative AI to harness new efficiencies from patient data. Currently, 41% of healthcare organizations in the Kingdom are investing in generative AI—significantly above the global average of 29%. Applications include treatment planning (72%) and in-hospital patient monitoring (72%), with future plans for medication management (48%) and remote patient monitoring (37%).
Looking ahead, 49% of leaders plan to increase investments in generative AI over the next year, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to become a global technology leader.
Environmental Sustainability: A Priority for Saudi Healthcare
Saudi healthcare leaders are also focused on reducing the sector’s environmental impact. Over half of organizations (54%) are actively recycling waste, and 53% are adopting sustainable procurement practices. Plans for the next three years include reducing energy use (49%), investing in green infrastructure (48%), and selecting eco-conscious suppliers (47%). Additionally, 45% aim to leverage virtual care technologies to lower emissions.
Shaping the Future of Healthcare in Saudi Arabia
With a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and patient care, Saudi Arabia is setting a global benchmark in healthcare transformation. The Future Health Index 2024 report illustrates how the Kingdom’s healthcare leaders are driving advancements in AI, automation, and environmental stewardship, paving the way for a sustainable and technology-driven future.
“At Philips, we are committed to partnering with healthcare providers on their sustainable healthcare journey,” says Sirafy. “We envision a future where everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, can access the care they need, when they need it. This is a future built on the strength of partnerships that bring stakeholders together across the healthcare ecosystem to collaborate and develop scalable solutions. That is how we can ultimately deliver better care to more people.”
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