Eligible patients can receive selected medical treatments at home after hospitalisation, including wound care, intravenous medication and urinary catheter care.
Saudi Arabia’s mandatory health insurance policy covers selected home healthcare services for patients who need continued treatment after leaving hospital, according to the Council of Health Insurance (CHI).
The covered services include post-operative wound care, intravenous medication when medically required and care for urinary catheters. The provision is intended to help eligible patients complete parts of their treatment at home rather than remain in hospital solely to receive services that can safely be delivered outside a hospital setting.
The Ministry of Health also offers a wider home healthcare programme for patients with different medical needs. However, the services available through that programme should not automatically be treated as benefits covered under every health insurance policy.
Which home healthcare services are covered by Saudi insurance?
The Council of Health Insurance’s published benefits schedule identifies three specific categories of home healthcare under the relevant insurance benefit:
- Post-surgical wound care: Medical attention for wounds following an operation when required.
- Intravenous medication: Administration of medicines through a vein after surgery or in other medically necessary cases.
- Urinary catheter care: Care associated with a catheter used to drain urine from the bladder.
The policy describes these services as a way for hospitalised patients to continue their treatment at home in accordance with appropriate medical practices.
Coverage is subject to the applicable policy terms and medical requirements. Patients should therefore confirm their eligibility and the arrangements for receiving care with their insurer and healthcare provider before assuming that a particular service will be paid for.
How Saudi Arabia’s home healthcare programme works
Home-based care is part of the broader healthcare services offered by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health. Its programme includes support for people living with chronic conditions, patients recovering from surgery, individuals requiring physiotherapy and people who need assistance with respiratory care or medication management.
The ministry also lists services such as intravenous therapy, care for patients with bedsores, palliative care, laboratory testing, medicine delivery and support for patients receiving nutritional treatment.
These services serve different patient groups and medical needs. Their availability under a public healthcare programme does not, by itself, establish that each service is included in an individual’s private insurance benefits.
For patients who are preparing to leave hospital, the distinction matters. The appropriate care plan depends on the patient’s condition, the treatment prescribed by the medical team and the service arrangements available through the relevant healthcare provider.
What should insured patients do?
Patients who expect to need medical assistance at home after surgery or hospital treatment should discuss their discharge plan with their treating team.
They should also contact their insurer or the Council of Health Insurance to establish whether the required service is covered under their particular policy, what medical documentation is needed and how an approved provider can be arranged.
The Ministry of Health publishes information about its home healthcare programme and the process for requesting services. Its guidance includes referral and assessment procedures for patients who require home-based support.
Home healthcare is not a substitute for hospital treatment when a patient’s condition requires inpatient care. The decision to continue treatment at home should be based on medical assessment and an appropriate care plan.
For patients who meet the relevant clinical and insurance requirements, the coverage provides a route to continuing selected treatments outside hospital, while making clear that eligibility and the precise benefits available must be checked individually.
1. Does Saudi Arabia’s mandatory health insurance cover home healthcare?
Yes. The applicable insurance benefits include selected home healthcare services for eligible patients who need to continue treatment after hospitalisation. Coverage is subject to the policy’s terms and medical requirements.
2. Which home healthcare services are covered?
The published benefits schedule identifies post-surgical wound care, intravenous medication after surgery or when medically necessary, and urinary catheter care.
3. Does the insurance cover all home nursing services?
Not necessarily. The specified insurance benefits should be distinguished from the wider home healthcare programme offered by the Ministry of Health. Patients need to check the terms of their own policy.
4. Can patients receive intravenous medication at home?
Intravenous medication is included in the specified home healthcare benefits after surgery or when medically required. The patient’s medical team and insurer should confirm the appropriate arrangements.
5. Does Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health provide home healthcare?
Yes. The ministry lists services including physiotherapy, intravenous therapy, catheter care, palliative care, medication delivery and support for patients with chronic diseases. Availability depends on the service and the patient’s circumstances.
6. How can a patient request home healthcare in Saudi Arabia?
Patients can start by discussing their needs with their treating hospital or healthcare provider and checking the relevant insurance arrangements. The Ministry of Health also publishes guidance on referrals, assessments and requests for home healthcare services.
7. Does this coverage apply to UAE residents?
The Saudi insurance provision concerns the applicable Saudi health insurance policy; it does not automatically apply to UAE health insurance. UAE residents who need similar treatment should check their own insurer’s benefits and exclusions.
