Saudi Arabia launches the Unified Health Record, supported by NPHIES platform

Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel launched the NPHIES platform, which aims to manage the exchange of patients health information with healthcare providers. The platform was launched at the Global Health Forum 2023 in Riyadh, with the participation of Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef, and Governor of the Digital Government Authority Eng. Ahmed Al-Suwaiyan.

Mohamed Alkherb, a product manager and exhibitor of NPHIES at the conference, said, "NPHIES has two parts: the clinical services and insurance services. The clinical services part exchanges clinical reports such as hospital visits, laboratory orders and reports, radiology orders and reports, pharmacy prescriptions and dispensations, immunization cards, and other clinical documents. The second part of NPHIES is for insurance transactions, including patients' insurance card eligibility checks, pre-authorizations of services, claims, and payment."

"With these two parts, the NPHIES platform provides a unified health record and financial information of around 32 million people, with the capacity to cover more than 50 million people. It is integrated with over 2000 healthcare providers and all health insurance companies, becoming the world's largest health information exchange. It would contribute to increasing the quality of services and better medical decisions." He added that "the platform uses standardized coded data that unlocks enhanced visibility, streamlined analytics, and new possibilities for all stakeholders."

The platform represents a quantum leap in the healthcare system, and it is one of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030's programs.

The NPHIES platform was launched by the Saudi Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Council of Health Insurance, the Saudi Health Council, and the National Health Information Center with the aim of sharing data to achieve levels of integration in national health services.