RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Health care services provided to type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia JF Saudi Medical Journal JO Saudi Med J FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 1216 OP 1225 DO 10.15537/smj.2015.10.12596 VO 36 IS 10 A1 Khalid A. Al-Rubeaan A1 Hamad A. Al-Manaa A1 Tawfik A. Khoja A1 Ahmad H. Al-Sharqawi A1 Khaled H. Aburisheh A1 Amira M. Youssef A1 Metib S. Alotaibi A1 Ali A. Al-Gamdi YR 2015 UL http://smj.org.sa/content/36/10/1216.abstract AB Objectives: To assess health care services provided to type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients and diabetes health care expenditure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods: This study was part of a nationwide, household, population based cross-sectional survey conducted at the University Diabetes Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2007 and December 2009 covering 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom. Using patients’ interview questionnaires, health care services data were collected by trained staff.Results: A total of 5,983 diabetic patients were chosen to assess health care services and expenditure. Approximately 92.2% of health services were governmental and the remaining 7.8% were in private services. The mean annual number of visits to physicians was 6.5±3.9 and laboratories was 5.1±3.9. Diabetic patients required one admission every 3 years with a mean admission duration of 13.3±28.3 days. General practitioners managed 85.9% of diabetic cases alone, or shared with internists and/or endocrinologists. Health care expenditure was governmental in 90% of cases, while it was personal in 7.7% or based on insurance payment in 2.3%.Conclusion: Health services and its expenditure provided to diabetic citizens in Saudi Arabia are mainly governmental. Empowerment of the role of both the private sector and health insurance system is badly needed, aside from implementing proper management guidelines to deliver good services at different levels.