Medical manpower in Saudi health services

ABSTRACT

In 1985 there were 14, 057 physicians in all health services in Saudi Arabia. Of these, 8, 239 worked in Ministry of Health facilities, and the overall physician population ratio was 1 750. The ministry of health has had a moderate shortage of physicians as evidenced by a low physician population ratio and a high number of patient visits annually to each doctor. The shortage has been greater in the northern and southern regions of the Kingdom. The targeted physician population ratio in the fourth development plan [1 550] calls for an increase in the number of physicians in 1990 to 22, 000. With the same target ratio for 1995, the number o physicians needed is estimated to be over 25, 000. The shortage of Saudi physicians is severe. Their present proportion is 10% of all physicians in the Kingdom. To achieve the goal of the fourth development plant, the proportion of Saudi physicians in the Kingdom will need to increase to about 23% by 1995. this would imply a real need for expansion in medical education facilities to achieve adequate medical manpower in a reasonable time