The document summarizes the status of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Saudi Arabia. It notes that NCDs such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer pose major public health challenges. The Ministry of Health has established several programs to address NCDs, including programs focused on diabetes control and prevention, cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease prevention, diet and physical activity, premarital screening, and newborn screening. The ministry has also implemented national health education campaigns, guidelines, and screening efforts to help control and prevent NCDs in Saudi Arabia.

1. Non-Communicable Diseases
in Saudi Arabia
Dr. Mohamad Saeedi
Director General NCD
MOH

2. Introduction
NCDs
 Major health problem, challenging globally and
nationally
As a fact
 General Directorate of Non-communicable diseases
established in 2004, under the Asst. Deputy Minister
for Preventive Medicine

3. NCDs International Overview

4. NCDs Strategic Objectives
&Responsibilities
 Primary and Secondary Prevention of NCDs
 Planning NCDs policies and control measures
 Stakeholders Collaboration
 Patient Empowerment Programs
 Capacity building for health professionals
 Surveillance of NCDs
 Research and Information systems
 Health Promotion: Enhancement of community
participation

5. Prioritization of NCDs programs
 Most prevalent diseases that poses a public health
problem
 Diabetes (14.1% age: 15-64, 28% age: >30y ‘Robaian 2008’)
 Cardiovascular Diseases (42% of total mortality 2010 ‘WHO’)
 Cost effectiveness
 Preventable diseases with proved measures in other
countries
 Curable diseases by early detection

6. KSA NCDs Status:
Step wise - surveillance for NCDs 2005
prevalence Men Wome Total
(%) (%)n (%)
hypertension 24.1 18.3 21.1
diabetes 19,2 16.6 17.9
hyperlipedeamia 18.7 19.9 19.3
obesity 28.6 43.3 36.1
Central obesity 27 31.9 29.4
smoking 24.7 1.4 12.9
Physical 34.4 33.2 33.8
inactivity
According to MOH / WHO step-wise surveillance will be repeated on 2012 - 2013

7. *KSA NCDs Mortality 2010
WHO – World Fact book 2012

8. NCDs programs in KSA
1. Diabetes control and Prevention program.
2. Cancer Prevention Program.
3. Food and Physical Activity program.
4. Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention Program.
5. The Healthy Marriage Program.
6. Early Screening Program for the New-born.
7. The Crown’s Health Prevention Program.
8. The Prevention of Accidents and Injuries.
9. Prevention of chronic respiratory diseases.
10. Osteoporosis Program
11. Blindness Prevention Program

9. Diabetes
prevention & control program
National diabetic guidelines
Health promotion
Screening programs for high risk groups
Electronic national registry for DM (Phase I)
Integration of health services in PHCs
Establishment of specialized diabetic centers, and
diabetic units in hospital (20 referral centers for C/O)
Continuous capacity building

10. Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
 Guidelines for Primary Prevention at PHC level
(endorsed)
 Guidelines for Secondary Prevention (started)
 National health education campaign about risk
factors and prevention (healthy life style)
 Pilot Research for Scoring System for local
adaptation
 Electronic national registry

11. Prevention of cancer
Occurrence
Type of cancer
frequency (%)
Breast 12.4
National cancer registry Colo-rectal 9.7
(1992) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
7.3
Health education campaign Thyroid 6.7
Training for health Leukemia 6.3
professionals (local Training Liver 5.2
Manuals with case studies) Skin 4.1
Lung
Mammogram screening 3.9
Hodgkin diseases
(Phase I) 3.6
Stomach 3.4

12. Diet and Physical activity
 Burden
 High prevalence of overweight and obesity (67 %)
 Low physical activity
 Unhealthy diet habits
 Achievement:
 Adoption of DPAS
 National health education campaign
 Guidelines for healthy life style
 Cooperation & coordination with other concerned sectors

13. Premarital screening
 Compulsory screening started 2004, for couples to
detect some hereditary and infectious diseases
(Thalassemia, Sickle cell disease, Hepatitis B, C, and HIV)
 Incompatible couples will receive counseling
session and it is their right to marry or not
 In 2004 out of incompatible couples (90%) continue
marriage, while in 2010 only (50 %) continue
 >2.2 Million were tested

14. Newborn screening
 Neonatal screening for (16) different metabolic and
hormonal syndromes, for the purpose of early
detection and treatment
 Started in 2005 in some main maternity and child
hospitals, and to be expanded to cover all hospitals
by year 2020
 Till now, 630,000 newborns were screened & 620
positive case s were diagnosed, properly managed
& monitored

15. Prevention of injuries and road traffic accidents
 Saudi Arabia ranking as one of the highest road
traffic accident globally (15% of annual Mortality)
 Ministry of Health is part of the national committee
for road traffic accident
 Responsibility of MOH:
 Providing medical emergency services
 Registry
 Educational campaign

16. Control of osteoporosis
National
health education campaign targeting
postmenopausal females, and old people
Screening for high risk population

17. The Crown’s Health Prevention Program
An integration of all NCD programs
Started the Pilot in Al Jawf region
Integrated NCDs Clinics
Enhanced Stakeholders Collaboration
Health Promotion at the Community Level
(Successful inclusion of religious and community
leaders)

18. Prevention of chronic respiratory
diseases
WHO / World bank estimated 4 millions
deaths in 2005
4.09% of KSA annual Mortality (2010)
27.1% of KSA occupational health
diseases
Established Asthma program (National
Asthma Management Guidelines)

19. •Stepwise 2012 - 2013
•DPAS (integration of stakeholders collaboration)
•Implementation of related legislations (Prohibition of
Smoking in closed areas)
•Improving early detection of NCDs by national screening
programs (diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, . . )
•Integrated Electronic Information System for NCDs

20. Dr. Mohammad Y. Saeedi