The Role of Big Data in Personalized Healthcare in Saudi Arabia

There is rapid adoption of new and sophisticated technology for revolutionizing the healthcare industry of KSA. The government’s Vision 2030 has boosted this process since it calls for changes in the existing healthcare systems with the development of new technologies. From EHRs to wearable health devices, the quantity and nature of data are large and only increasing. Yet, the sheer volume of such data presents the great potential for enhancing both healthcare delivery and effectiveness and the overall organization of this sector. This shift not only improves the quality of care for patients but also contributes to the nation's efforts towards local and global economic diversification within the healthcare sector.     

Big Data in Saudi Healthcare  

Big Data analytics refers to the method of acquiring vast data resources at different stages, handling them efficiently, and analyzing them from EHRs, wearable, genetic, and administrative data. Big data has helped healthcare providers to advance from using standard operational models, hence the development of specific treatment plans. Some statistics to support the use of Big Data in the Arabian healthcare system are:

• Around 17.2% of Saudi people are diabetic, and about 19% are CVD patients. These conditions are major healthcare challenges that Big Data can address better.
• Current spending in the healthcare sector of Saudi Arabia shows that it will reach $160 billion in the next decade. Out of this, a considerable amount is spent on the use of Big Data analytics for enhancing service delivery and organizational efficiency.
• According to the research, more than 70% of the large hospitals in Saudi Arabia have adopted big data services in organizational and patient management systems by 2023.
• By the year 2030, the Big Data healthcare sector is likely to generate more than 10,000 profession-specific positions in health data science, bioinformatics, and genetic counseling. 
• Global biotech firms have estimated that the healthcare big data projects in Saudi Arabia will attract investment of more than $2 billion in the coming ten years.

Key projects

• The King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) acts as a supplier of Big Data solutions to enhance the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia. By 2030, KAIMRC aims to have hospitals collaborate with research institutions to sequence one hundred thousand genomes. The large data set on genomic variation helps in the differentiation of the human population according to their ease of susceptibility to diseases and prescription of appropriate medication.
• Acting as a core facility for genomic data, the Saudi Genomics Centre is an essential actor in implementing genomic data into the health care system. The genetic database is kept fully complete at the center, which means that accurate models are developed regarding genetic disorders so that preventive health measures can be put in place early. By 2023, the center will be able to collect genetic data from more than 50000 people, which has given HuoYi a strong ground for building its personalized medicine.
• The Saudi Cancer Registry employs the use of big data to establish and evaluate data on cancer. The registry helps in developing tailored cancer treatment plans when the genomic information is combined with a patient’s medical history. This call now to improve the quality of cancer care service and to reduce the cost is well-timed and relevant to the fact that cancer cases in Saudi Arabia are expected to double by 2030.

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Benefits of Big Data 

• Detection And Prevention of The Disease: Big Data analytics also allows for disease prediction based on genetics and behavioral risks associated with certain health problems. For instance, timely diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia prevents interventions whose outcomes are almost always dire to the heart. Arab News has pointed out that if measures like these are embraced, they can reduce healthcare costs in Saudi Arabia by anything up to $6 billion per year because early prevention strategies are far cheaper to undertake than treating diseases in their late stages. 
• Cost Efficiency: Personalized treatments from big data minimize the conventional procedure of hit-and-try, which is normally applied to prescriptions. This targeted approach reduces readmission rates and the rate of adverse drug reactions for the indicated diseases, thus resulting in less expenditure. It becomes easier and cheaper to manage chronic conditions, for example, diabetes, which is present in 18 percent of the Saudi population. 
• Economic Development and Structural Transformation: Big Data in healthcare has a role to play in Saudi Arabia’s diversification of its economy as per Vision 2030. The biotechnology sector, with the help of big data analytics, is successfully making attractive partners and investments from overseas. In addition to this, it encourages innovation and the generation of high-value jobs and propels economic development while making Saudi Arabia a major player in the global healthcare market. 

Challenges in Implementation 

One of the most important issues is the lack of qualified specialists having detailed knowledge in the sphere of big data analytics in the sphere of healthcare. DataHub Analytics mentioned that there is a deficiency in about 5,000 data scientists and bioinformaticians in Saudi Arabia at the moment. For this reason, the Kingdom has increased investment in education and training to improve human resources. It has entered into collaborations with international institutions to train specialized genomics personnel and has set up training institutes for genomics qualifications.

For Big Data to work effectively in delivering improvements in healthcare, there must be strong frameworks for data control and protected data archives. Although Saudi Arabia has started building the needed technological infrastructure for the advancement of telehealth, further investment is required to promote these programs throughout the country and their integration into the healthcare system. In 2023, already, there exist over 15 modern data centres for healthcare Big Data in such large cities as Riyadh and Jeddah. The government has planned to spend $500 million on improving the healthcare IT systems during the next five years.

The policies related to the collection and analysis of large amounts of genetic and health data are the most privacy and ethical concerns. Due to these reasons, there is a need to embrace and advance an established institutional regulatory system for the security and integrity of patient information. Big Data in healthcare has made Saudi Arabia consider policies relating to the ownership, use, and protection of data that is used ethically in the country.

• In 2022, Saudi Arabia introduced data protection legislation designed for the healthcare system that requires strict permissions for data processing.
• The Saudi Health Council has set ethical principles concerning the application of genetic and health information, therefore, managing big data.

Future Prospects

The future of personalised medicine in Saudi Arabia can be considered rather bright, as big data is expected to define the future of the healthcare system. The evolution of genomic research, data analytics, and infrastructure investment will further fuel the growth of personalised medicine. PPPs are believed to spur innovation and strengthen research to increase the use of big data in multiple healthcare sectors. Big Data in the Saudi Arabian healthcare market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 10.22% from 2023 through 2030 and reach a market value of about $5 billion. Big Data-based personalised treatments are estimated to enhance the quality of treatments by 25% and the mortality level of chronic diseases, including diabetes and CVD.

Conclusion

Big Data is gradually changing the healthcare of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, holding numerous advantages in the form of advanced diagnostics, cost savings, and economic impact. With Vision 2030 backing it, the Kingdom is slowly and effectively incorporating big data analytics into its healthcare system. There are many problems associated with changing the approach to developing the healthcare workforce and sustaining the privacy of data; however, the future of personalized medicine in Saudi Arabia is rather solid and prosperous. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can turn into the world’s leading country in implementing personalized medicine, thus improving people’s quality of life, in the case of further investments in big data technologies and the overcoming of the main barriers to their implementation.

Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Tanemya Capital will not be held responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.