Al-Ahsa: Robotic surgery reduces patient waiting times to 10 days

In a move reflecting the rapid development of the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia, the Al-Ahsa Health Cluster an unprecedented leap in surgical performance indicators during 2025. This leap was demonstrated by the cluster's success in performing 34,819 diverse surgical procedures, while reducing the average patient waiting time for surgery to just 10 days. This achievement reflects the maturity of the healthcare transformation and the efficiency of the operational system in the region, placing Al-Ahsa among the medically advanced regions in the Kingdom.

The context of health transformation and the importance of achievement

This achievement cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the Health Sector Transformation Program, one of the programs under the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to restructure the health sector into a comprehensive, efficient, and integrated healthcare system. Reducing waiting times is a key indicator of the success of this transformation, directly contributing to improved quality of life and alleviating patient suffering. Achieving a 10-day waiting time is a global record in public healthcare systems, underscoring the success of the health cluster strategy in managing and optimizing resource allocation.

Numbers speak louder than words: High operational efficiency

The operating rooms at the complex's facilities recorded a high volume of medical activity, with routine procedures accounting for the largest share at a total of 29,840 operations. This impressive figure not only reflects the sheer volume but also clearly indicates the hospitals' high capacity and the readiness of medical staff to handle the increased demand and provide services to thousands of beneficiaries with high efficiency without compromising quality and safety standards.

Robotic surgery techniques: A medical revolution in Al-Ahsa

Last year saw the dawn of a new era of precision medical interventions with the introduction of advanced robotic surgery techniques. The significance of this technology lies in its ability to:

• Improving the accuracy of complex operations and accessing delicate areas that are difficult to reach with traditional surgery.
• Reducing potential complications and bleeding rates during operations.
• Accelerating the recovery journey for patients, which means reducing the length of stay in the hospital, which in turn contributes to providing beds for other patients and reducing waiting lists, in a complete positive cycle.

Reducing waiting rates by 23%

Thanks to these procedures and technologies, the center was able to reduce patient waiting times for surgery by 23%, bringing the average down to 10 days. This record rate reflects the precision of the planning and the smooth flow of patients between different medical departments, from diagnosis to surgical intervention.

Localizing services and reducing referrals

These efforts culminated in the establishment of new specialized centers, enhancing the clinical capacity and technical capabilities of the cluster. This expansion directly contributes to localizing specialized medical services within Al-Ahsa Governorate, reducing the need for medical referrals outside the governorate to major cities and sparing patients and their families the hardship of travel.

The Al-Ahsa Health Cluster confirmed that these rising figures and indicators are a practical translation of the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aim to facilitate access to services and build a sustainable health system that places the beneficiary at the heart of its concerns.