The Role of the Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctor Program in Supporting the Health System during and after COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Adequate supply of health workforce with proper skills is essential to deliver appropriate health services in normal times and during disasters. Objective: To describe the role of the Saudi Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors Program in the provision of critical care during COVID-19 pandemic, and in the clearance of the surgical backlog thereafter. Methods: We reviewed reports of General Directorate of Health Services and Saudi Ministry of Health annual statistical books to obtain the following data: number of temporary healthcare professionals contracted from 2019 to 2022; number of intensive care unit beds before and during COVID-19 pandemic; volume of elective surgeries before, during and after COVID-19 pandemic. Results: In 2020, intensive care unit beds increased from 6341 to 9306 in governmental hospitals in response to COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 3539 temporary healthcare professionals were recruited from April to August 2020 to contribute towards staffing the added beds. During the recovery period from COVID-19 pandemic, 4322 and 4917 temporary health care professionals were recruited in 2021and 2022 respectively. Elective surgeries volume increased from 5074 in September 2020 to 17533 in September 2021 to 26242 in September 2022, surpassing the volume of surgeries in pre-COVID-19 period. Conclusions: In response to COVID-19 pandemic, and through the existing temporary contracting program, the Saudi Ministry of Health was able to recruit temporary staff of verified credentials in a timely manner, to supplement the existing staff, for activation of the newly added intensive care unit beds, and for clearing the resulting surgical backlog.

The Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors Program in the Saudi Ministry of Health: Development, Reform and Outputs.

Background: Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors' Program was initiated by the Saudi Ministry of Health to address issues of sustainable supply of healthcare professionals in the whole country and in remote areas in particular. Objective: This study aimed to describe the experience of the Saudi Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors' Program, the undertaken reform steps and the program outputs. Methods: We conducted a case study and reviewed documents of the Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors' Program to obtain data about the program's development and steps of reform. We also extracted data about the number of different types of temporary contracts, the program budget and the healthcare professionals registered on the "VISITORs" platform. Results: Scope of the Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors' Program had widened from contracting physicians from outside Saudi Arabia to include healthcare professionals from inside the country. The program's reform efforts included: formation of a governing central committee, development of guidelines, adoption of decentralized implementation system and modified budget release system, development of electronic staff bank and e-recruitment system and the introduction of virtual healthcare under the scope of the program. During the program evolution the number of temporary contracts has increased steadily, specifically the more efficient part-time contract variety, the contracts with physicians with rare sub-specialties, and contracts with Saudi healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Reform undertaken in the Saudi Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors' Program ensures needs-based recruitment, efficient use of resources, and supply of staff of verified quality.