Healthcare in Riyadh
Healthcare in Riyadh is given priority and there's a wide range of public and private facilities accessible to both expats and locals. Recent economic growth in Saudi's capital city has impacted the health needs of the population and instigated positive change. These days, hospitals in Riyadh provide complete medical care, ranging from diagnostic services, to surgery, to continuous nursing care and expats rarely need to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia is responsible for creating and implementing policy in the preventive, curative and rehabilitative health realms.
The government body operates over 1600 health centres across the Kingdom, but there is no form of nationalised health insurance as of 2011.
As a result, expats will absolutely need to procure private health insurance. In most cases, health insurance is part of contract negotiations and is paid for by the employer. Alternatively, some employers will not offer health insurance, but will make an agreement with the hospital where an expat chooses to receive treatment.
Either way, expats should take care to address this subject when arranging their package.
Local health insurance providers in Saudi Arabia are highly reputed, and most expats utilise these services rather than the services of international health insurance providers.
Comprehensive health insurance, including doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, surgery, routine check-ups, and ambulance pick-ups, costs from around 60 USD per month for general services and from around 60 USD per month for dental services.
Cosmetic procedures and children's orthodontics aren't covered by insurance in most cases.
Some of the most trusted health insurance providers are:
There are public, private and military hospitals in Riyadh and the standard of each facility varies tremendously. Private clinics and hospitals tend to be of superior quality and are heavily favoured by expats. These facilities come with a hefty price-tag however, so expats should make sure they have appropriate health insurance before seeking treatment.
Otherwise, public hospitals in Riyadh can be subject to overcrowding.
There are very few major surgeries that can't be performed in the country; expats rarely need to travel abroad to receive proper treatment.
For the most part the medical community in Riyadh speaks English. Many of the doctors and nurses are expats themselves, and originate and were trained in Europe, the US, Egypt, India and Pakistan.
Almost all the medicines like pain killers, cough syrups, eye drops, vitamins and some commonly used antibiotics are available from pharmacies without a prescription. That said, there are some medicines that can’t be bought without a doctor’s prescription.
Furthermore, expats should note that the Health Ministry has banned the use of tranquillisers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills. However, if you are dependent on these pills - only in extreme cases of mental illness, you can obtain the medication with a doctor's letter and prescription. It is best to bring these medications from abroad; however, they are rare in Riyadh.
It’s important to obtain a receipt if you want to claim from your insurance as medicines are quiet expensive. Most pharmacies are open from 9.30am to 1pm and from 4.30 to 10.30pm. Many hospitals have a 24-hour pharmacy, where you can obtain prescription and non-prescription medicines.
In Riyadh the ambulance services are normally operated and controlled by police and government hospitals. The widely used emergency service telephone number is 997, this service is also equipped with helicopter rescue services, but these are only used for road accidents or evacuations from difficult terrain. In the case of an emergency, do the following:
Health insurance in Riyadh
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia is responsible for creating and implementing policy in the preventive, curative and rehabilitative health realms.
The government body operates over 1600 health centres across the Kingdom, but there is no form of nationalised health insurance as of 2011.
As a result, expats will absolutely need to procure private health insurance. In most cases, health insurance is part of contract negotiations and is paid for by the employer. Alternatively, some employers will not offer health insurance, but will make an agreement with the hospital where an expat chooses to receive treatment.
Either way, expats should take care to address this subject when arranging their package.
Local health insurance providers in Saudi Arabia are highly reputed, and most expats utilise these services rather than the services of international health insurance providers.
Comprehensive health insurance, including doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, surgery, routine check-ups, and ambulance pick-ups, costs from around 60 USD per month for general services and from around 60 USD per month for dental services.
Cosmetic procedures and children's orthodontics aren't covered by insurance in most cases.
Some of the most trusted health insurance providers are:
- Tawuniya – Ncci.com.sa
- Saudi National Insurance Company – Snic.com.sa
- Al Rajhi Insurance – Alrajhitakaful.com
Hospitals in Riyadh
There are public, private and military hospitals in Riyadh and the standard of each facility varies tremendously. Private clinics and hospitals tend to be of superior quality and are heavily favoured by expats. These facilities come with a hefty price-tag however, so expats should make sure they have appropriate health insurance before seeking treatment.
Otherwise, public hospitals in Riyadh can be subject to overcrowding.
There are very few major surgeries that can't be performed in the country; expats rarely need to travel abroad to receive proper treatment.
For the most part the medical community in Riyadh speaks English. Many of the doctors and nurses are expats themselves, and originate and were trained in Europe, the US, Egypt, India and Pakistan.
Recommended hospitals in Riyadh
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Tel 1-464 7272
- King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. Tel 1-482 1234
- King Fahad Medical City. Tel 1-2889999
- King Fahad National Guard Hospital. Tel 1-252 0088
- King Khaled Eye Hospital. Tel 1-467 0011
- Security Forces Hospital. Tel 1-477 4480
- Kingdom Hospital. Tel 1-211 1111
Pharmacies in Ridayh
Almost all the medicines like pain killers, cough syrups, eye drops, vitamins and some commonly used antibiotics are available from pharmacies without a prescription. That said, there are some medicines that can’t be bought without a doctor’s prescription.
Furthermore, expats should note that the Health Ministry has banned the use of tranquillisers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills. However, if you are dependent on these pills - only in extreme cases of mental illness, you can obtain the medication with a doctor's letter and prescription. It is best to bring these medications from abroad; however, they are rare in Riyadh.
It’s important to obtain a receipt if you want to claim from your insurance as medicines are quiet expensive. Most pharmacies are open from 9.30am to 1pm and from 4.30 to 10.30pm. Many hospitals have a 24-hour pharmacy, where you can obtain prescription and non-prescription medicines.
Emergencies in Riyadh
In Riyadh the ambulance services are normally operated and controlled by police and government hospitals. The widely used emergency service telephone number is 997, this service is also equipped with helicopter rescue services, but these are only used for road accidents or evacuations from difficult terrain. In the case of an emergency, do the following:
- Call 997 immediately, all operators do speak both English and Arabic.
- Ask for an expected time of arrival.
- Or if you are unable to call 997 then go directly to the nearest hospital with an accident and emergency department in your own transport or taxi.
- If calling a taxi, make sure that the driver understands the urgency of the situation.
- Make your problem clear to the emergency doctor, especially if it's life threatening.
