Leadership and Neonatal Transport in Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Health Systems Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65759/33c53w13Keywords:
Neonatal transport, health leadership, healthcare governance, Saudi Arabia, neonatal intensive careAbstract
Background: Neonatal transport links initial stabilization with definitive neonatal intensive care, yet Saudi Arabia lacks a unified national framework. Regional variation in resources, staffing, equipment, and transfer coordination may contribute to inequitable access and inconsistent care. This study examined neonatal transport in Saudi Arabia from a health leadership perspective and compared the current system with international models to identify governance gaps and reform priorities. Methods: A qualitative, comparative, policy-oriented review was conducted using peer-reviewed literature, government reports, and institutional documents published between 2000 and 2024. Evidence from Saudi Arabia was compared with neonatal transport systems in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. The analysis focused on governance, accountability, workforce capacity, system integration, quality standards, data monitoring, telemedicine, and equity. Results: The Saudi system was characterized by decentralized coordination, concentration of neonatal intensive care resources in major regions, reliance on general emergency medical services in peripheral areas, and absence of a national transport registry. International models consistently demonstrated centralized dispatch, specialized teams, standardized protocols, accreditation, continuous monitoring, and mechanisms supporting rural access. A phased pilot centered at King Saud Medical City was proposed to test coordination, training, digital communication, and performance monitoring. Conclusion: Leadership-driven national coordination, standardized training, telemedicine integration, and systematic data collection could strengthen neonatal transport, reduce regional disparities, and support Saudi Vision 2030 priorities.
References
1. Fenton, A., Leslie, A., & Stewart, M. (2022). Neonatal retrieval and transport medicine: International perspectives. Journal of Perinatology, 42(7), 917–924.
2. Broughton, E., Berry, A., & Danhaive, O. (2020). Leadership and governance in neonatal transport systems: Lessons from the NHS. Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 105(6), F630–F635.
3. Sethi, D., Subramaniam, R., & Wallace, E. (2019). Governance in neonatal transport systems: A review of frameworks. Global Health Action, 12(1), 1641034.
4. Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice (7th ed.). Sage Publications.
5. World Bank (2022). Neonatal mortality rate – Saudi Arabia. World Bank Data.
6. Saudi Ministry of Health (2023). Statistical Yearbook. Riyadh: Ministry of Health.
7. Al-Qahtani, M., AlHarbi, S., & Banjar, H. (2021). Challenges in neonatal transport in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal, 42(4), 389–395.
8. AlSaif, S., AlKhater, S., & AlDabbagh, M. (2019). Neonatal transport in Saudi Arabia: Current state and future directions. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 39(6), 423–429.
9. Saudi Vision 2030 (2016). Health Sector Transformation Program. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
10. Lee, S. K., et al. (2017). Ontario’s neonatal transport system: A model for regionalized care. Paediatrics & Child Health, 22(3), 123–128.
11. OHSU (2024). Pediatric and Neonatal Doernbecher Transport (PANDA). Oregon Health & Science University.
12. Al Shammari, A. M., Alotaibi, N., & Harbi, M. A. (2022). Assessment of neonatal transport services in remote Saudi regions. Saudi Medical Journal, 43(7), 688–695.
13. NHS England. (2022). National Neonatal Review: Neonatal Transport Framework.
14. NSW Health. (2023). NETS NSW Annual Report.
15. World Health Organization. (2007). Everybody’s Business: Strengthening Health Systems to Improve Health Outcomes. WHO Press.
16. Manasyan, A., et al. (2015). Neonatal outcomes following emergency transport in low-resource settings: A systematic review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 15(1), 1–9.
