Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has revealed that more than 290,000 non-critical surgeries were performed within different regions of Saudi Arabia in 2022.

The ministry stated that it has provided various medical care services to beneficiaries all over the Kingdom. As many as 49,600 surgeries were performed in Riyadh region, 8,765 in Tabuk region, 13,800 in Taif governorate, 5,543 in Al-Qurayyat governorate, 2,631 in Al-Qunfudah governorate, 22,100 in Al-Qassim region, 7,106 in the Northern Borders region, and 10,100 in Najran region.

The ministry's hospitals conducted 16,100 surgeries in Makkah region, 17,800 in Madinah region, 19,900 in Jazan region, 18,500 in Jeddah governorate, 10,100 in Hail region, 6,935 in Hafar Al-Batin governorate, 20,100 in Al-Sharqiyah region, 7,616 in Bisha governorate, 8,771 in Al-Baha region, 24,400 in Asir region, 5,937 in Al-Jowf region, and 13,600 surgeries in Al-Ahsa governorate.

As for the most frequently performed surgeries, general surgery was the highest in number with a rate of 21%, followed by obstetrics and gynecology surgery at 14%, and eye surgeries at 13%.

The ministry said that the Secondary and Specialized Care Center at the National Health Center for Command and Control (CCC) has followed up and monitored waiting lists for routine surgeries, and ensured service delivery by scheduling the operation within 36 days.

MOH indicated that the average number of patients added to the waiting list is approximately 18,000 per month at the level of its hospitals. Obesity, dental, eye, plastic surgery, pediatrics, and orthopedics were the highest specialties on the waiting lists.