Health care services provided to type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives:To assess health care services provided to type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients and diabetes health care expenditure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods:This study was part of a nationwide, household, population based cross-sectional survey conducted at the University Diabetes Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2007 and December 2009 covering 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom. Using patients’ interview questionnaires, health care services data were collected by trained staff.Results:A total of 5,983 diabetic patients were chosen to assess health care services and expenditure. Approximately 92.2% of health services were governmental and the remaining 7.8% were in private services. The mean annual number of visits to physicians was 6.5±3.9 and laboratories was 5.1±3.9. Diabetic patients required one admission every 3 years with a mean admission duration of 13.3±28.3 days. General practitioners managed 85.9% of diabetic cases alone, or shared with internists and/or endocrinologists. Health care expenditure was governmental in 90% of cases, while it was personal in 7.7% or based on insurance payment in 2.3%.Conclusion:Health services and its expenditure provided to diabetic citizens in Saudi Arabia are mainly governmental. Empowerment of the role of both the private sector and health insurance system is badly needed, aside from implementing proper management guidelines to deliver good services at different levels.

Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia

“…Health insurance provides a small component of healthcare expenses by Saudi, possibly for cultural and religious reasons. Thus, adopting innovative approaches to medical insurance will help to deliver healthcare to diabetic patients in administrative health regions (Al-Rubeaan et al 2015c). The MOH intends to update its plans for providing diabetes awareness education at the community level, targeting those individuals with unhealthy lifestyles, diabetic patients, and their families (The Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia 2017).…”

The perspectives of physicians regarding antidiabetic therapy de‐intensification and factors affecting their treatment choices—A cross‐sectional study

“…Healthcare professionals should employ a patient‐centred approach that considers patient subjective factors, physician related factors, clinically measured patient data, and medications costs as all of these factors are associated with better disease management. The provision of care for diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia is not limited to specialised physicians, it can be provided across the spectrum of healthcare including primary healthcare facilities that provide services to non‐communicable diseases, which include diabetes 43 . For this reason, guideline bodies need to set recommendations for approaches to de‐intensify treatment options for DM patients that cater to the diversity of the disease itself as well as the healthcare providers.…”

Are Physicians in Saudi Arabia Ready for Patients with an Insulin Pump? An Examination of Physician Knowledge and Attitude

“…Only one study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, discussed the level of knowledge and the attitude among healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia regarding insulin pump therapy [ 11 ]. The present study included participants from different specialties, which is important because the management of patients with diabetes in the country is usually done under different specialties [ 10 ]. Moreover, this study provides important information from most regions in Saudi Arabia regarding the assessment of knowledge and attitude toward insulin pump therapy.…”

“…Second, based on our practice, patients with diabetes can get insulin pumps without a prescription from online markets outside the country. Third, in addition to endocrinologists, physicians of different specialties, such as family physicians, internists, and pediatricians, are included in the management of patients with diabetes [ 10 ].…”