1. The document discusses policy evaluation of Saudi Arabia's electronic health policy over the last ten years. It assesses the impact on both target and non-target groups in the short and long term, and considers both direct and indirect costs and benefits. 2. Program evaluation methods are outlined, including before-after comparisons, projected trend lines versus actual outcomes, and comparisons between areas with and without programs. Challenges to effective evaluation include unclear goals, vested bureaucratic interests in proving success, and high costs of evaluation. 3. Barriers to terminating ineffective government programs include concentrated benefits to some groups, legislative and bureaucratic interests, and incremental decision-making. Politics can substitute for thorough policy analysis. Some

1. Topic: Policy Evaluation ( Electronic-Health policy in kingdom of Saudi
Arabia )
The topic is Policy Evaluation: Electronic-Health policy in K.A.S( you will write just about
Saudi health care system )Please follow the guideline below:Policy Evaluation:1 – Assessing
the Impact of (Electronic-Health policy) in KSA in the last ten years.A- Policy Evaluation is
learning about the consequences of (e-health policy)B- Policy Impact: the impact of a policy
is all its effects on real—
_world conditions, including:_impact on the target situation or
group_Impact on situations or groups other than the target_Impact on future as well as
immediate conditions_Direct costs, in terms of resources devoted to the program_Indirect
costs, including loss of opportunity to do other thingsC- Symbolic and Tangible
Effects_Measuring impact, Not Output_Target Groups_Nontarget Groups_Short-term and
Long-term Effects_Indirect and Symbolic Costs and Benefits_Calculating Net Benefits and
CostsD- The Symbolic Impact of Policy_It deals with the perceptions of government action
and the attitudes toward it_The failure to try to do something would have even a worse
attitude2 – Program Evaluation:A – What Governments Usually Do_Hearings and
Reports_Site Visits_Program Measures_Comparison with Professional Standards_Evaluation
of Citizens’ ComplaintsB – What Governments Can Do_Before versus after
Comparisons_Projected Trend Line versus Post program Comparisons_Comparisons
between Jurisdictions with and without Programs_Comparisons between Control and
Experimental Groups before and after Program ImplementationC – Why It Fails So
Often_Determining what the goals of the program areMany programs and policies have
primarily symbolic valueGovernment agencies have a strong vested interest in “ proving”
that their programs have a positive impactSubstantial investment, therefore, they don’ t
want to prove that it doesn’ t work!Daily activities hinders evaluation attemptsProgram
evaluation cost!How Bureaucrats Explain Negative FindingsThe James Wilson Laws of
Social Science Research on Policy ImpactWilson’ s First Law: All policy interventions in
social problems produce the intended effect – if the research is carried out by those
implementing the policy or by their friends.Wilson’ s Second Law: No policy intervention in
social problems produces the intended effect – if the research is carried out by independent
third parties, especially those skeptical of the policy.Why Government Programs are Seldom
Terminated1- Concentrated Benefits, Dispersed CostsA – The case of the Malt importers
subsidy2- Legislative and Bureaucratic InterestsA – The case of MoH blood banks
systems3- Incrementalism at WorkA – Small changes, positive or negativePolitics as a

2. Substitute for AnalysisThe Sports Authority Vs Youth Presidency Consultative Council one
vote difference!The Limits of Public PolicySome societal problems are incapable of
solutionExpectations may always outrace the capabilities of governmentsSolving one
group’ s problems may create problems for other groups_ Hikes in utilities bills?The case of
urban Vs nonurban settlements (small villages)The case of creating undesired dependency
on the governmentThe solution to some problems may require policies that are more costly
than the problem_ Freedom Vs securitySometimes the system is irrational!