ARTICLE FEATURES . How does expenditure turn into health?
How does expenditure turn into health? The Gulf raised budgets and achieved outcomes
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he Gulf States put the citizens' health at the top of their priorities. Therefore, special attention has been given to the health sectors. In the past years, the health sector kept pace with the accelerating health developments globally while facing the coronavirus pandemic, which exhausted many countries around the world. In order to achieve this, the Gulf countries have been increasing the budget allocations to the health sector year after year. Expenditures have been increased in hospitals and health facilities that provide citizens with top-notch healthcare and optimal care and protection. The Global Health Security Index (GHS Index) stated the Gulf countries’ plans to increase healthcare spending, as spending in 2017 was about $76 billion, and is expected to exceed $104 billion by the end of 2022. According to the World Bank, the overall government expenditure on the healthcare sector was 45% of the total size of the economy. Two years ago, there were 118,000 beds in Gulf hospitals, and they are expected to reach 123,000 beds by the end of 2022. In the midst of this utmost care given to the health sector, four Gulf countries ranked among the best in local and international studies indicators in the field of health service, sector development and expenditure volume.
Qatar: Expenditures to improve the quality of the sector Qatar is ranked fifth in the Health Index by the London-based Legatum Institute, thanks to improved life expectancy and health outcomes for patients and a high level of investment in health infrastructure. This progress, which was ranked 13th in the Middle East by the UAE, is ranked first in the Middle East in terms of life expectancy and is among the top 25 in terms of quality of health services and access to healthcare. Qatar is the only country in the region to secure its
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THE TOTAL ALLOCATIONS FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR IN THE GENERAL BUDGET AMOUNTED TO APPROXIMATELY 22.6 BILLION RIYALS, WHICH REPRESENTS 11% OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES. THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN THE HEALTHCARE DEVELOPMENT FIELD THAT THE COUNTRY IS CURRENTLY WITNESSING INCLUDE EXPANSIONS OF HAMAD MEDICAL CORPORATION’S HOSPITALS AND FACILITIES AS WELL AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PRIMARY CARE CENTERS.
top five positions on Singapore's annual prosperity index, followed by Luxembourg, Japan and Switzerland. The country's spending in the region's top healthcare sector was 22.7 billion riyals in healthcare in 2018, up 4 percent from the previous year. The Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari said: “The State of Qatar has invested heavily in the health sector under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the country.” The first place on the international index reflects the State's commitment to health-system priorities designed to meet the needs of future generations and to improve the health of the population at present, she confirmed. Qatar scored highly on its e-health readiness as well as site quality. In 8 out of 10 quality categories measured by the authors, Qatari websites scored higher than the GCC average. The team of researchers stressed that Qatar is now uniquely placed to take a leading role in Internet-based health information in the region. Factors such as Qatar’s high Internet connectivity and penetration rates, planned broadband infrastructural upgrades, a positive youth attitude towards technology, and health sector improvements are all valuable assets for future development of e-health in Qatar. Regarding the development of spending in the State’s health budget, expenditure allocations for major projects in the year 2020 increased by 0.6% to reach 90 billion riyals, compared to 89.5 billion riyals for Qatar’s budget in the fiscal year 2019. The total allocations for the health sector in the general budget amounted to approximately 22.6 billion riyals, which represents 11% of the total expenditures. The most important projects in the healthcare development field that the country is currently witnessing include expansions of Hamad Medical Corporation’s hospitals
