Why health consulting is crucial for giga-projects in Saudi Arabia

Dr Shane Stockil, Medical Manager, International SOS – Al Rushaid, said that Saudi Arabia, a pivotal player in the global market, is thriving across several industries. International SOS acknowledges the value of establishing a presence in this strategically positioned country, especially with its ambitious development projects and thriving economy that offers the company a unique opportunity to provide its expertise in promoting workplace health and well-being. For over 35 years, we have been committed to delivering high-quality health and wellbeing services to organisations worldwide and in the Middle East. Our presence in the Saudi market allows us to leverage this accumulated experience, and address specific regional health challenges and requirements of organisations operating within the Kingdom.

Since our strategic partnership with Al Rushaid Group and the establishment of International SOS – Al Rushaid JV in 2018, which provides health and wellbeing services in the nation, we have observed several parallels between the Saudi Arabian and international medical trends, particularly in the areas of mental health, occupational health, and preventive care. However, there are also noticeable differences influenced by regulatory frameworks, healthcare infrastructure, and cultural practices. By understanding and adapting to these nuances, we effectively meet the evolving healthcare needs of organisations and individuals in Saudi Arabia, fostering a healthier and safer workplace.

International SOS-Al-Rushaid provides comprehensive medical services for remote work sites, ensuring the health and wellbeing of employees in challenging environments. We offer comprehensive suite of occupational health services as well as dedicated primary and emergency healthcare services for remote site workforce along with quality medical supplies that are further supported by our distinct clinical reach-back infrastructure for remote supervision. These are facilitated through Electronic Medical Records, digital telemedicine, a Medical Transportation Plan for off-site patient movement, and on-site Health Toolkits. Furthermore, our risk management solutions help keep employees healthy and productive, allowing organisations to focus on their core business activities. 

International SOS’ Assistance Centers are supporting our on-the-ground operations. They draw on our teams’ in-depth knowledge of the local and regional medical, operational, and regulatory environments to offer remote medical support to our on-site healthcare staff at clients’ remote sites. The centres also support our ability to gain detailed health and security awareness, which strengthens our understanding of the local operating environment, as well as the medical and security conditions specific to each country and city. 

Furthermore, International SOS extensive network of medical providers adds to our capacity to deliver timely and effective medical assistance. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, we work with our network of third-party providers who operate a fleet of helicopters to facilitate rapid medical evacuations when necessary. Similarly, our full fleet of air ambulances based in Dubai enables us to swiftly transport patients to advanced medical facilities when needed. We guarantee the highest standards of care for organisations’ workforce by combining the provision of on-the-ground medical services, managing and coordinating medical cases through the Assistance Centers, and leveraging International SOS strong network of medical providers, backed by air and helicopter ambulance support.  

Health consulting is crucial for giga-projects as it provides invaluable expertise and insights that are necessary for the project’s success. We use a systematic process to identify, assess, and prepare for health risks to individuals in an organisation to minimise the incidence of illness and injury, maintain workplace safety, and promote mental health and well-being. Our consulting engagements in the Kingdom encompass a wide range of tasks, such as ensuring compliance with local and international occupational health standards and regulations, developing comprehensive health programmes that address the physical and mental health needs of our organisational workforce, and delivering robust and uninterrupted medical services during massive site expansions.

In the early stages of a project, our consultants are focussing on gaining a comprehensive understanding of the project's scope and objectives to better identify and address potential health and safety challenges. During project’s construction phase, they continue to assist companies by offering a wide range of insight, instruments and approaches focussed at promoting and enhancing employee health, wellbeing and productivity. The key focus areas here are to support business continuity by providing timely and quality medical care to employees, thereby increasing their efficiency while minimising downtime. 

Before being deployed to a remote site, our medical professionals are guaranteed to have received AHA-certified training from our training department in KSA. This, combined with our comprehensive e-learning programs and quality improvement programs such as skills assessments and clinical skills manuals, further contributes to the delivery of high-quality medical services. Following the stringent principles of clinical governance and medical supervision our on the ground medical teams are always working together with International SOS medical professionals at Assistance Centers leveraging their combined expertise to further enhance our services. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and ensures that we are at the forefront of best medical practices.

Our Occupational Health Services in Saudi Arabia include a wide range of medical evaluations and programs designed to promote and protect the health and wellness of employees in a variety of industries. These services, provided at the Burj AlShifa Medical Complex in Dammam, and International SOS Medical Complex in Khobar, include routine, preventive, and industry-specific health checks to protect workers' safety and productivity in KSA. Designed to reduce occupational hazards, prevent work-related illnesses and injuries, and support workers' optimal physical and mental wellness, these services are also fully compliant with the local and international requirements and regulations. 

In addition, we provide mobile health checks in Saudi Arabia, as well as OH medicals, Baladiya, Iqama, Driver's Licence medicals, and more, offering flexible and easy ways to deliver pre-employment and periodic medical services directly to clients. These capabilities enable efficient on-site medical examinations and screenings, removing the need for patients to travel to medical facilities, as well as providing healthcare solutions that are suited for a wide range of groups and organisations.

Our latest projects have seen the successful implementation of comprehensive medical solutions, tailored to the specific requirements of organisations operating in Saudi Arabia. For instance, we established a 700 square meter, state-of-the-art medical facility and operated satellite clinics to offer primary and emergency care to more than 28,000 employees as part of a major project. Another instance is when we designed and managed an advanced Health Centre to meet the diverse healthcare needs of over 3,000 employees. These projects underscore our commitment to delivering tailored medical solutions at scale, with a strong focus on employee well-being and operational efficiency.