Abstract
BackgroundSaudi Arabia is considering increasing the role of the private sector’s participation in financing and delivering healthcare services through the adoption of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). However, the adoption and successful implementation of PPPs in the Saudi healthcare sector requires careful attention to overcome potential obstacles.ObjectivesThis study investigates and identifies potential barriers to the successful implementation of PPPs in the Saudi healthcare sector.MethodsA pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 72 respondents over a two-month period. Respondents were asked to rate the degree of influence of potential key barriers using a five-point Likert scale. The collected data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsThe evidence showed that the top three barriers, as rated by the respondents, were legal barriers, including delays in receiving approval and permits and law and regulation changes, environmental barriers, including lack of transparency and accountability and technological barriers, including a shortage of professionals qualified to handle PPP projects.ConclusionsThe barriers identified suggested that the government should ensure that PPPs are implemented in a timely manner to ensure that private sector involvement yields the intended benefits. Furthermore, a stable legal and regulatory framework must be established that is properly and easily enforced to avoid confusing stakeholders with too many changes. It is also important to ensure that transparency and accountability measures are strengthened.
Highlights
One of the main duties of governments is to provide essential public services
The barriers identified suggested that the government should ensure that private partnerships (PPPs) are implemented in a timely manner to ensure that private sector involvement yields the intended benefits
PPPs are commonly used to take advantage of innovations found in the private sector, lower the risks associated with the development of public sector assets and enhance the success of the development and financing of public infrastructure facilities and services for the public [8]
Summary
One of the main duties of governments is to provide essential public services The provision of such services, including education, transport infrastructure and healthcare, requires adequate resources, including financial resources. Governments provide these services by building infrastructure and financing projects delivering other services to the citizenry. Governments face many constraints, including technical challenges (because governments might be unable to provide all services effectively and efficiently) and financial challenges (because they do not have unlimited budgets) [1,2] It is, natural for governments across the globe to consider new initiatives and one increasingly common method of delivering public services is to form public-private partnerships (PPPs) [3,4,5]. The adoption and successful implementation of PPPs in the Saudi healthcare sector requires careful attention to overcome potential obstacles
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