A pioneering step towards the future of digital healthcare
In a significant achievement reflecting the rapid development of the healthcare sector in the Kingdom, the Makkah Health Cluster that it provided over 1.2 million virtual medical consultations last year across its 111 healthcare facilities. This strategic step is part of the cluster's efforts to utilize the latest digital technologies to reduce waiting times for medical appointments and facilitate efficient and convenient access to healthcare services for patients.
General context and healthy digital transformation
This expansion of telemedicine services aligns with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Health Transformation Program, which aims to restructure the healthcare sector into a comprehensive and efficient system that implements the latest healthcare models. The concept of “telemedicine” or “virtual clinics” has witnessed tremendous global growth, accelerated significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrated the importance of digital solutions in ensuring the continuity of care. The Kingdom is investing heavily in digital infrastructure to enable these services, positioning it as a leader in digital health across the region.
The importance of the initiative and its expected impact
The virtual clinics initiative in Mecca is of particular importance given the city's unique nature. Locally , these clinics serve the residents of the Holy City, saving them the trouble of traveling and reducing long waiting lists, especially for patients with chronic illnesses or the elderly. Internationally , this service represents tremendous logistical support for pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah, enabling them to receive quick medical consultations without leaving their accommodations, thus contributing to their health and safety during their rituals.
The services offered through virtual clinics covered a wide range of over 150 specialized and general medical fields, and were activated and operated with high efficiency in 111 healthcare facilities. This technological expansion directly contributed to facilitating the patient's treatment journey and increasing the efficiency of human and operational resource utilization in healthcare facilities.
Improving the patient experience is a top priority
The health cluster explained that these steps are part of a comprehensive development plan that prioritizes the patient experience. By employing the latest digital solutions, the cluster ensures the continuity of healthcare and provides a flexible and safe care model. The cluster emphasized that its outcomes align with the health transformation program strategy to deliver integrated healthcare services befitting the status of the Holy City of Mecca, its residents, and visitors.
The group concluded its statement by emphasizing its commitment to continuing the expansion of virtual services in the future, while working to include new specializations and facilities to ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency for beneficiaries, and to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a role model in digital health transformation.
