The number of registered healthcare practitioners in Saudi Arabia has risen by 7.6 per cent in 2025, exceeding 800,000 nationwide, according to the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).
The figure was disclosed at the 101st meeting of the SCFHS Board of Trustees, held on Sunday at the Commission’s headquarters in Riyadh, with representatives from government, private, educational and specialized sectors in attendance.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Health and Chairman of the SCFHS Board of Trustees, Fahad Al-Jalajel, expressed appreciation to the Kingdom’s leadership for its continued support of the health sector. He also acknowledged the royal patronage extended to graduates of SCFHS programmes in 2025.
Al-Jalajel praised the success of this year’s graduation ceremony, which marked the completion of studies by more than 12,500 male and female graduates from the Saudi Board and Health Academy programmes. The event drew over 20,000 graduates and family members.
The Board reviewed the Commission’s performance indicators and key achievements for the fourth quarter of the year. Among the highlights was a significant expansion in training capacity, with available positions across various health specialties increasing to more than 900,100—an increase of over 17 per cent compared to 2024.
The meeting also examined SCFHS initiatives in health workforce planning, including studies on labour market needs for nursing and clinical assistants through to 2034. These efforts involve integration with the education system by setting standards and classifying health qualifications for scholarship pathways, as well as coordination with the National Labour Observatory to track the performance and career progression of Saudi health graduates annually.
In addition, the Board was briefed on the Commission’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This includes work in sports medicine aimed at expanding the pool of qualified healthcare professionals, developing specialised training programmes, and formalising partnerships with the Professional League Association and the Leadership Development Institute under the Ministry of Sports.
(Saudi Gazatte)