Center for National Health Insurance is a is a key outcome of the initiatives within the Health Sector Transformation Program; that provides public insurance coverage to its beneficiaries and purchases health care services from accredited health institutions in order to ensure the provision of high quality and efficient healthcare services to all beneficiaries, based on a comprehensive health benefits package. The Center supports the response of the health system to the population health needs, while controlling the cost of healthcare and enhancing competitiveness and transparency to ensure financial sustainability and equitable distribution of resources, aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare services in the Kingdom.
The establishment of the Center for National Health Insurance came as a culmination of the efforts exerted within the Program for Health Insurance and Purchasing initiative (one of the initiatives by the Vision Realization Office at the Ministry of Health). This was formalized by the esteemed Cabinet Resolution No. (469) dated 19/8/1443 AH, which, in article (1) of paragraph (10), approved the Mandate of the Center for National Health Insurance. This development follows previous Cabinet decisions and Royal Decrees based on the recommendations of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs regarding the transformation of the health sector. Among these are Royal Decree No. (17726) dated 29/4/1436 AH, which approved the Council of Economic and Development Affairs’ recommendations on the state's strategic directions, including article (15) which stipulated the privatization of health institutions and the implementation of a comprehensive health insurance program for citizens. Additionally, Royal Decree No. (12067) dated 11/3/1438 AH endorsed the final list of “National Transformation Initiatives,” which includes the Institutional Transformation Program for Healthcare Facilities, the Program for Health Insurance and Purchasing, Private Participation Program, the modern Model of Care, Health Sector Governance, E-health, improved access to existing government healthcare facilities, and integrated planning for the necessary capacity.
