Best Hospitals for Cardiac Sciences in Saudi Arabia Share & Compare Reviews, Ratings, Feedbacks

Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the best doctors in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has a lot of good doctors and it is quite easy to locate them following some easy steps. One can easily look for a doctor online on the various review and rating sites or ask around in their locality. However, in case you are a visitor, it might be difficult to find a doctor or healthcare provider in the city. The best bet is to ask your insurance agent or embassy for a referral or you can resort to online platforms. The healthcare policies and system of Saudi can make it difficult for expats to avail healthcare at times. The system is unique, for a patient, who is not a citizen of the country, to receive the treatment they are required to have a healthcare insurance card. Mostly, it is observed that patients prefer to find a doctor who practices near their locality or block. The city boasts a large number of general practitioners. But, if you are looking for a disease-specific doctor or a specialist, you can ask for a referral from a general practitioner or look for the lists of doctors on online portals and hospital websites. The country’s Ministry of Health portal can help you find the right information, that is best suited for your medical needs. You can also resort to the below-mentioned methods to find the best doctors in Saudi Arabia:

  • Visiting the CCHI website
  • Getting in touch with the country’s embassy
  • Asking your health insurance provider
  • Visiting the UK government website, which has a list of English-speaking services
  • Going through various website directories

Shortlisting a few basic parameters can help in the search for the right doctor. This includes:

  • Searching for a specialist: Looking for a specialist will narrow down the field and target the right area where you must look for the right doctor for you. In simpler terms, if you are looking for a cosmetic surgeon, it is highly recommended to book an appointment with a specialist instead of going to a general practitioner. You can compile a list of the same before going for a physical visit.
  • Determine your preferred doctor: It is further simpler to narrow down your search for a right doctor when you specify and introspect your personal preferences. Asking important questions like, ‘Are you willing to travel a far off distance to see a doctor?’ or ‘Do you prefer your doctor to be a female?’ will help you land in the right healthcare facility and visit the right doctor faster.

If your concerns persist, you can ask the following additional questions to reflect on your needs and priorities before making a decision. These include:

  • Where is the doctor's office and how easy is it to get there?
  • Does your insurance care plan cover the hospital where this doctor is available?
  • How long is the waiting time after an appointment?
  • Will the doctor be available in case of an emergency?
  • Does the doctor have friendly behaviour?

Which are some of the most common types of doctors patients seek out in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has gained a lot of international recognition and fame for the quality of its healthcare facilities and friendly culture. Most of the doctors in the country are English speakers, with many having had their education in the United States or Europe. In most cases, they offer comprehensive and specialised healthcare. A cardiologist is the most looked after specialist for visitors in Saudi. However, general practitioners are the city's primary and most often visited physicians. Patients in Saudi Arabia frequently seek out the following categories of doctors:

  • Cosmetic surgeon
  • Cardiologist
  • Cardiac surgeon
  • ENT specialist
  • Gastroenterologist
  • General surgeon
  • Oncologist
  • Neurologist
  • Gynaecologist
  • Eye specialist
  • Orthopedist
  • Urologist

Which are the most popular treatments availed in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is known for many treatments around the world. Some of the popular treatments even attract medical travellers from different corners of the world, along with other major attractions like the VIP culture and extensive care and facilities provided by many hospitals in the city. Saudi is mostly known for cosmetic and cardiac surgeries. These treatments are performed by using modern and hi-tech technologies. Most doctors who perform the treatment procedures are trained from the US and are English speaking. The culture in Saudi is very inclusive with professionals from many different countries working together. Some of the most popular treatments available in Saudi Arabia are:

  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Cardiac Sciences
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • ENT
  • Gastroenterology
  • General Surgery
  • Gynaecology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedics
  • Transplants
  • Urology

What are the standards of healthcare offered by hospitals and clinics in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia's government provides universal healthcare to its inhabitants in both the public and private sectors. The healthcare infrastructure is separated into two levels: a lower network of primary healthcare institutions that provide preventative, emergency, and basic healthcare; and a higher network of secondary healthcare facilities. The highest tier of healthcare is reserved for more specialised and complex patients, with the majority of clinics and hospitals located in the Kingdom's urbanised areas. About 62 percent of Saudi Arabia's hospitals are under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, with the rest falling under the purview of other government organisations such as the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, and other ministries. Saudi Arabia's healthcare system reflects the country's luxury lifestyle by providing great care to its citizens. In comparison to other Middle Eastern and North African regions, the Kingdom has an above-average physician-to-patient ratio and a hospital bed-to-population ratio. With cutting-edge equipment and competent clinicians, both public and private hospitals and clinics display exceptional quality. The Kingdom boasts over 30 JCI-accredited hospitals, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining high-quality healthcare standards and regulations. Saudi citizens and government employees are entitled to free public healthcare, which is financed mostly by oil profits. Under the Cooperative Health Insurance Law of 1999, medical insurance is required for everyone, even foreigners. If you're employed as an expat, you'll be covered by your employer's health insurance, but you can also buy a separate policy. Saudi nationals and government employees are covered by the government's free medical insurance programme.

The Ministry of Health is in charge of overseeing and regulating the public healthcare system as well as private healthcare organisations, which provide medical services to roughly one-third of the country's population. The public healthcare system provides comprehensive care, which includes the following complimentary services:

  • GP services
  • In-patient care
  • Out-patient care
  • Specialist care
  • Dental care
  • Prescriptions
  • Pregnancy and postpartum care
  • Mental healthcare

Saudi Vision 2030, the government's plan to diversify the economy and slash spending, calls for further privatisation of the healthcare system - but for the time being, public healthcare is fully free for people.

What is the level of expertise that is offered by doctors and surgeons in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi has doctors from different cultures and locations of the world working in hospitals and clinics. Because much of the high-tech equipment, as well as many of the employees, is imported, most international nationals face no language barriers. People with complex demands or requiring specialist cancer surgery opt to seek treatment in this location, which has been designated as a medical excellence centre. With 2.4 doctors per 1000 people, the country has a strong doctor-to-population ratio, and health care accounts for 4.7 percent of GDP. The doctors with varying levels of experience and expertise in a specific field can be easily located in the country. It depends on the research of the patient as well the budget. Patients can choose a doctor of their desired choice and book an online consultation with them.

Why Saudi Arabia is a preferred medical destination?

The medical tourism business in Saudi Arabia is expected to increase rapidly. The increased need for efficient and exclusive healthcare services is attributed to the market's rise. Furthermore, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lavishes resources on improving healthcare services. Furthermore, better healthcare, cutting-edge technology, breakthrough pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment are all important growth drivers for the Saudi Arabia medical tourism market in the next five years. Consumers traveling for medical treatments and diagnoses are influenced by regions with a lack of medical insurance and poor healthcare facilities. Furthermore, patients in neighboring countries with harsher regulations prohibiting some medical procedures, such as gender identification of an unborn child, fertility treatments, and so on, are compelled to contemplate traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, discretionary income and government refund policies influence consumers, resulting in market expansion. The medical tourism market in Saudi Arabia is divided into four categories: type, treatment, competitive landscape, and regional distribution. The sector is further segmented into incoming and outbound travel based on the type of travel. The Saudi Arabian government's rules are enticing patients from neighboring and other nations to take advantage of world-class services. Outbound medical tourism may see a considerable increase in the next five years as medical procedures in other nations become more inexpensive. Though the country's healthcare system is excellent, certain medical procedures necessitate expensive medical devices and drugs, resulting in increased billing that may be out of reach for some patients, and government-subsidized outbound travel for medical procedures profits from this and supports the growth of the Saudi Arabia medical tourism market. With the rapid advancement of technology, it is reasonable to conclude that effective research and development of technologically sophisticated services would aid in new growth.