Saudi workers in the private sector will be required to obtain health insurance, Arab News reports. This brings them on an equal standing with expat workers, who had been required to have health insurance as of last April. There’re are questions, though, about whether the system can move quickly enough to enroll a million and a half people and about the price. It’s a bold move to shift this kind of cost during an economic downturn (See Saudi Gazette: Harder times ahead), but Saudi government and society believe the risk is worthwhile.

Mandatory health plans for Saudis within six months
P.K. Abdul Ghafour | Arab News

JEDDAH: A mandatory health insurance scheme is to be applied on 1.5 million Saudis working in the private sector and their families within six months, said Dr. Abdullah Al-Sharief, secretary-general of the Cooperative Health Insurance Council.

Al-Sharief said insurance companies are ready to provide health insurance cover to Saudi employees, adding that insurance providers in the Kingdom include 25 government hospitals. “We expect 25 more public hospitals will enter the service shortly.”

Dependence of government hospitals was essential as there are no private hospitals in some areas of the Kingdom.

But Dr. Abdul Ilah Saaty, vice dean of Jeddah Community College and an insurance expert, said insurance companies would not be ready in six months to provide the service to Saudi employees. “We should give them at least one year for preparation,” he told Arab News.
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