Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Value-Based Health Care (VBHC) has emerged globally as a strategy to improve health outcomes while optimizing resource use. Saudi Arabia has aligned its health-system transformation under Vision 2030 with VBHC principles, yet the extent to which reforms reflect systematic implementation remains unclear.This study assesses the current implementation pathways of VBHC in Saudi Arabia by mapping national health-sector initiatives against the four enablers of the World Economic Forum (WEF) VBHC framework—Informatics, Benchmarking & Research Tools, Payments, and Delivery Organization.
METHODS: A deductive thematic analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with policymakers and eighteen official documents from Value in Health (VIH) network entities was conducted between June and August 2024. Data were coded in NVivo 15 following Braun and Clarke’s six-step approach, using the World Economic Forum framework as the analytical lens.
RESULTS: Findings reveal substantial groundwork in informatics infrastructure, digital health integration, and cluster-based service reorganization. Pilot projects for bundled payments and outcome-based financing are underway, yet fragmentation, variable data quality, and limited benchmarking capacity constrain full VBHC realization. Despite strong political commitment, reforms remain largely preparatory, emphasizing structure over operational change.
CONCLUSIONS: Saudi Arabia is in the foundational phase of VBHC implementation. Strengthening data interoperability, formalizing outcome-linked payments, and embedding integrated care within cluster operations are critical next steps to advance toward a mature, value-driven health system.