RIYADH, 29 June 2005 — The role of the private sector in health care economics will be the subject of a three-day conference to be held in Riyadh in September. Titled the International Conference on Health Care Economics & Endowments, it will be opened by Riyadh Governor Prince Salman.

Dr. Fahd Al-Sultan, secretary-general of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, assured the organizers of the full support and cooperation of the private sector.

Dr. Fahad Alorifi, consultant at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and the conference chairman, said that delegates from both within the Kingdom and abroad would participate in the conference which will discuss various aspects of health care economics.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, involved for the first time in such an event, will be exploring the theme of efficient organization of the income from endowments for health care projects.

“Endowments have played an important role in Islam. The conference will seek to reemphasize the role of endowments and encourage people to have an organized method of funding health care through endowments,” Dr. Alorifi said.

Dr. Alorifi said the conference was taking place at a time when the Kingdom was poised for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). What implications it has for the health care economics in terms of providing cost-effective solutions for health care delivery will be the theme of the presentation of Dr. Fawaz Alalami, deputy minister of commerce for technical affairs.

Representatives of the World Bank, WHO and international academic and research institutions will also take part in the deliberations that will cover cost-cutting measures in the health care system through operational efficiency and greater involvement of the private sector in providing health services.

Dr. Alorifi said an increased share of the private sector participation in health care projects has become necessary in view of the population growth rate of four percent annually. Of the SR40-50 billion spent on healthcare development in the Kingdom, the government bore 80 percent of the cost, with only 20 percent of the amount coming from the private sector.

He said the conference will provide a forum for the exchange of experience both at regional and international levels on cutting health care costs and streamlining the administrative system.