Saudi Chronic Disease Mortality Falls 40%, Life Expectancy Hits 79.7

Saudi Arabia marked World Patient Safety Day 2026 on September 17 with the release of national health indicators showing a 40 percent reduction in chronic disease-related mortality, an increase in average life expectancy from 74 to 79.7 years, and a rise in the Healthcare Services Quality Index to 70.4 percent in 2025, surpassing the annual target of 60 percent. The figures, announced by the Saudi Patient Safety Center under the theme “Safe Care for Life,” reflect a healthcare system in the midst of a broad transformation toward prevention, early detection and patient-centered care, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program.

Context and Background

The achievements were highlighted as the Kingdom joined the global observance of World Patient Safety Day, an annual occasion led by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of patient safety and reduce avoidable harm in healthcare. This year’s theme focuses on the safety of care provided to people living with noncommunicable diseases throughout their healthcare journey, from prevention, screening and early diagnosis to treatment, follow-up, long-term care and self-care.

Saudi Arabia’s healthcare transformation represents a deliberate shift away from a model centered on treating illness toward one that prioritizes prevention, early detection and the quality and safety of care. Officials say the approach also emphasizes empowering patients to participate in health-related decisions, an objective embedded in the Kingdom’s wider quality-of-life agenda.

Key Details and National Efforts

The Saudi Patient Safety Center, the national body mandated to advance patient safety, is leading a range of awareness and educational initiatives in partnership with relevant stakeholders. These efforts aim to expand the concept of patient safety beyond healthcare facilities and establish it as a sustainable community culture in which patients and their families are active partners throughout the care journey.

As part of this year’s activities, the center, in collaboration with the National eLearning Center, is organizing a workshop titled “Co-Designing Patient and Family Engagement in Care Planning.” The workshop seeks to strengthen collaboration between patients, their families and healthcare teams, while involving them in service design and improving the care experience.

The center is also organizing the “A Journey of Continuous Awareness” event at the Sports Boulevard in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Sports Boulevard, NUPCO Care and Al Riyadh Club. Through interactive, physical and family-oriented activities, the event highlights the importance of preventing noncommunicable diseases and the role of individuals and families in adopting healthy practices that contribute to safer care.

The commemoration extends to healthcare facilities, landmarks and selected locations through awareness messaging activations and the illumination of several buildings in orange, supporting the global patient safety message and reinforcing the concept of “Safe Care for Life.”

Saudi Patient Safety Center Director General Dr. Ali bin Tala’a Asery emphasized that patient safety is a fundamental element in building a high-quality healthcare system. He noted that addressing noncommunicable diseases requires continuous and integrated care that accompanies individuals throughout their lives, placing prevention, early detection and shared decision-making at the heart of the care journey.

He said: “Patient safety is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the boundaries of healthcare facilities to include patients, families, communities, and various relevant sectors. Strengthening this partnership helps embed a culture of safety and transform it into a sustainable practice that contributes to improved health outcomes and quality of life.”

Implications and Impact

The indicators carry significance for both domestic public health and the Kingdom’s international standing. A 40 percent reduction in chronic disease-related mortality and an average life expectancy of 79.7 years position Saudi Arabia among the region’s most rapidly improving health systems. The Healthcare Services Quality Index result of 70.4 percent in 2025, exceeding its annual target of 60 percent, offers a measurable benchmark of progress in care quality and safety.

For international audiences, the developments signal that Saudi Arabia is building a healthcare model that integrates prevention, digital learning and community engagement rather than relying solely on clinical treatment. The emphasis on continuity of care and self-care for patients with noncommunicable diseases aligns with global best practice, where chronic conditions account for the majority of premature deaths worldwide.

The multi-sector partnerships behind the awareness initiatives reflect a broader governance approach in which government entities, healthcare providers and community organizations coordinate to deliver public health outcomes. This integrated model is intended to reduce preventable risks and harm while strengthening the patient experience across the full care journey.

Vision 2030 Alignment

The advances in patient safety and life expectancy form part of the Health Sector Transformation Program, a core initiative of Saudi Vision 2030. The program aims to build a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system centered on prevention, quality of care and improved patient experience, while contributing to the Kingdom’s quality-of-life objectives.

The Saudi Patient Safety Center continues to advance practices that reduce preventable harm, promote patient and family engagement, and foster a culture of safety. As the Kingdom expands public health awareness and strengthens integration across the healthcare ecosystem, the 2026 indicators underscore a long-term commitment to placing patient safety at the heart of national health strategy and to sustaining progress that benefits citizens, residents and visitors alike.

20 Questions

Q1. What occasion did Saudi Arabia commemorate on September 17, 2026?

A1. Saudi Arabia commemorated World Patient Safety Day 2026 under the theme “Safe Care for Life,” highlighting national progress in healthcare quality, prevention and patient safety across the Kingdom’s health system.

Q2. What reduction in chronic disease-related mortality was reported?

A2. National health indicators showed a 40 percent reduction in chronic disease-related mortality, reflecting the impact of prevention, early detection and improved quality of care across Saudi Arabia.

Q3. How has average life expectancy changed in Saudi Arabia?

A3. Average life expectancy increased from 74 to 79.7 years, a significant gain that reflects improvements in healthcare quality, disease prevention and the overall standard of living in the Kingdom.

Q4. What was the Healthcare Services Quality Index result in 2025?

A4. The Healthcare Services Quality Index reached 70.4 percent in 2025, exceeding the annual target of 60 percent and demonstrating measurable progress in the quality and safety of care.

Q5. What does the 2026 World Patient Safety Day theme focus on?

A5. The theme focuses on the safety of care for people living with noncommunicable diseases throughout their healthcare journey, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, follow-up, long-term care and self-care.

Q6. Which Saudi body is leading national patient safety efforts?

A6. The Saudi Patient Safety Center is the national body mandated to advance patient safety, leading awareness and educational initiatives in partnership with relevant stakeholders to embed safety as a community culture.

Q7. Who is the Director General of the Saudi Patient Safety Center?

A7. Dr. Ali bin Tala’a Asery serves as Director General of the Saudi Patient Safety Center and has emphasized that patient safety is a fundamental element in building a high-quality healthcare system.

Q8. What workshop is being organized with the National eLearning Center?

A8. The workshop, titled “Co-Designing Patient and Family Engagement in Care Planning,” aims to strengthen collaboration between patients, their families and healthcare teams in service design and care experience.

Q9. Where is the “A Journey of Continuous Awareness” event being held?

A9. The event is being held at the Sports Boulevard in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Sports Boulevard, NUPCO Care and Al Riyadh Club, featuring interactive and family-oriented activities.

Q10. Why are buildings being illuminated in orange?

A10. Buildings are illuminated in orange to support the global patient safety message and reinforce the concept of “Safe Care for Life” across healthcare facilities, landmarks and selected locations.

Q11. How does Saudi Arabia define patient safety responsibility?

A11. Saudi Arabia defines patient safety as a shared responsibility that begins with the healthcare system and extends to individuals, families and communities, promoting active partnership throughout the care journey.

Q12. What is the goal of the healthcare transformation?

A12. The transformation aims to shift toward a model centered on prevention, early detection, and improving the quality and safety of care, while empowering patients to participate in health-related decisions.

Q13. Which national program supports these healthcare goals?

A13. The Health Sector Transformation Program supports these goals as part of Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to build a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system centered on prevention and quality of care.

Q14. How do the indicators reflect on Saudi Vision 2030?

A14. The indicators demonstrate tangible progress toward Vision 2030 objectives, including improved quality of life, a sustainable health system, and better health outcomes and patient experience across the Kingdom.

Q15. What role do patients and families play in the new model?

A15. Patients and families are active partners throughout the care journey, participating in health-related decisions and service design to strengthen continuity of care and reduce preventable risks and harm.

Q16. How does the center define sustainable community culture?

A16. The center describes it as expanding patient safety beyond healthcare facilities so that safety becomes a lasting community practice in which patients and families are engaged partners in care.

Q17. What is the significance of the 70.4 percent index result?

A17. The result exceeds the 60 percent annual target and provides a measurable benchmark of progress in healthcare quality and patient safety across Saudi Arabia’s health system in 2025.

Q18. Why is preventing noncommunicable diseases important?

A18. Preventing noncommunicable diseases supports safer care and improved health outcomes, as these conditions require continuous and integrated care that accompanies individuals throughout their lives, from prevention to long-term care.

Q19. How does the Kingdom mark World Patient Safety Day beyond Riyadh?

A19. The commemoration extends to healthcare facilities, landmarks and selected locations through awareness messaging activations and the illumination of several buildings in orange to reinforce the global patient safety message.

Q20. What is the long-term objective of these efforts?

A20. The long-term objective is to advance practices that reduce preventable harm, promote patient and family engagement, and foster a culture of safety supporting Vision 2030’s goals for a sustainable, high-quality healthcare system.

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