Characteristics of Electronic Health Services in Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

Introduction: Saudi Arabia’s experience using digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic helped the country in tackling the pandemic. We aim to explore a bundle of consumer-directed electronic health services released by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We reviewed all electronic health services that have been released in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the MOH in Saudi Arabia. A list of the services has been prepared and each service has been explored in detail. The service terms and procedures have also been reviewed for pertinent information.Results: There were 13 services noted in total. Services were devoted to the general public and healthcare practitioners. Services ranged from simple appointment booking for the COVID-19 vaccine to interactive maps of all available healthcare centers and electronic prescriptions of medications. In addition, 10 applications were published for use on smartphones.Conclusion: The digitalization of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia has eased communication between the public and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, electronic health services served as an effective tool against the spread of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic.