Saudi’s approach to hospitality and change

“Is the juice on the right mine?” I asked. “Everything is yours,” he replied. Instantly. Saudi hospitality is warm to experience. Nobody had to train the employees of Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) to behave this way, it came naturally to them as they hosted us last night.

I was thinking yesterday about the reaction to the transformation in NHS England and the Health Holding Company. I’m struck that the reforms are so similar but the conversations so different.

Saudi Arabia is devolving its central budgets to 21 Health Holding Companies, a little after England started its 42 Integrated Care Systems. Each HHC is going through gateways to achieve financial independence like the ICSs did. It is implementing a 10-year plan like the UK’s health minister Wes Streeting is creating. Saudi Arabia is integrating all providers with its national health information exchange while Wes Streeting recently announced a similar intent this week. Both countries are focused on digital as the way forward.

When I speak to NHS England staff their constant complaint is about constant change. The Saudis are proud of past and planned changes, I can’t stop them from listing them.

I don’t think it’s money. Saudi Arabia spends 6% of GDP on health to the UK’s 11%. The UK’s $51k per capita income is higher than KSA’s $33k (although adjusted for purchasing power it’s lower at $59k vs $70k). They both have migrant workers increasing capacity at lower wages and disease burdens.

I think youth is part of it. 65% of KSA’s population is under the age of 30, they raise the average optimism more than the UK’s 36% can. Youth is also the lowest stage of needing health care, as KSA’s planners are urgently aware.

But there is also a cultural difference. Saudis are happy with a strong state centralising while it’s an Englishman’s pride to protest. I love both countries for their approaches and I smile to myself warmly when I watch their conversations. Few in England know that Saudis have a trader mentality, built up since before Islam, it gives an entrepreneurial optimism about the future. You have to experience it to understand it. Along with the hospitality.