2022 insights on hospital bed distribution in Saudi Arabia: evaluating needs to achieve global standards

Abstract

Background: Equitable geographical distribution of health resources, such as hospital beds, is fundamental in ensuring public accessibility to healthcare services. This study examines the distribution of hospital beds across Saudi Arabia's 20 health regions. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2022 Saudi Ministry of Health Statistical Yearbook. The study focused on calculating the hospital beds-per-1,000-people ratio across Saudi Arabia's 20 health regions. The analysis involved comparing regional bed distributions using the Gini index and Lorenz curve to assess the distribution of hospital beds. Results: The national average beds-per-1,000-people ratio was 2.43, serving a population of approximately 32.2 million. The calculated mean Gini index for bed distribution was 0.15, which indicates a relatively equitable distribution. Further analysis revealed some regional disparities, with health regions like Makkah and Jeddah displaying critically low bed-to-population ratios. In contrast, others like Al-Jouf and the Northern region reported higher ratios. The study also identified the need for an additional 17,062 beds to meet international standards of 2.9 beds per 1,000 people. Conclusions: The findings revealed a national average beds-per-1,000-people ratio of 2.43, with some regional disparities. The study highlights the critical need for targeted healthcare planning and policy interventions to address the uneven distribution of hospital beds across Saudi Arabia. Trial registration: Not applicable.