The primary objective of reforming the health care financing system is to achieve a Universal Health Coverage (UHC)* to enable all segments of Saudi society to access the necessary health care services at the time of need with high-quality and efficiency without exposing the user to financial hardship. The health care financing system levers to approach UHC lie in three interrelated areas:
- Collecting fund for health care financing.
- Reducing financial barriers to access to health care services.
- Allocating or utilizing funds in a manner that promotes efficiency and equity.
* “UHC is firmly based on the WHO constitution of 1948 declaring health a fundamental human right and on the Health for All agenda set by the Alma Ata declaration in 1978. UHC cuts across all of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and brings hope of better health and protection for the world’s poorest.”