Ophthalmology Workforce Over A Decade In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia: Demographics, Distribution, And Future Challenges
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO541 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/rsf4-4e13
Authors: Albanderi Alhamzah* 1 , Tariq Aldebasi 1 , Shiji Gangadharansh 2
1Ophthalmology ,Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) ,Riyadh ,Saudi Arabia, 2Ophthalmology ,gangadharansh@MNGHA.MED.SA,Riyadh ,Saudi Arabia
Purpose
Our research objective is to estimate the trends, demographic characteristics, distribution, and variation between Saudi and non-Saudi ophthalmologists and to explore future workforce challenges in the field of ophthalmology in the KSA. Additionally, we aim to clarify whether there is an uneven distribution of ophthalmologists across the kingdom and to determine the ratio of ophthalmologists to the population density.
Setting
This study was conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia KSA and included ophthalmologists practicing from 2010 to 2023.
Methods
From the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, we obtained the number, gender, nationality, and rank of ophthalmologists. The geographic distribution of ophthalmologists in the KSA was obtained from the Ministry of Health Statistical Yearbook 2021.
Results
As of January 2023, the KSA had a total of 2608 registered ophthalmologists, with 81.06 ophthalmologists per 1,000,000 people. Only 38% of all ophthalmologists were Saudis. The percentage of Saudi female graduates increased from 13.3% to 37.2% over 12 years (P < 0.001). Additionally, we found that the geographic distribution of ophthalmologists varied (test for homogeneity of rates, P < 0.0001), with the larger regions having a higher concentration of ophthalmologists than the smaller regions (75.6 in Riyadh versus 42.8 in Jazan per 1,000,000 people). However, the World Health Organization’s target for the ophthalmologist-to-population ratio has been achieved in all 13 health regions of KSA.
Conclusions
The recommended ophthalmologist-to-population ratio has been achieved in the KSA, and the number of Saudi ophthalmologists has almost doubled over the past 8 years. However, the majority of ophthalmologists are still non-Saudi, as Saudi ophthalmologists constitute approximately one-third of the ophthalmology workforce in the KSA. The geographical distribution of ophthalmologists varies, which might affect access to care in peripheral regions. In response to the growing demand for eye care in the KSA, several more effective measures might need to be considered.