Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2019 | Emergency Medicine | State of International Emergency medicine
Emergency medicine in Saudi Arabia: a century of progress and a bright vision for the future
Authors:
Eyad Khattab, Abdulrahman Sabbagh, Nawfal Aljerian, Hashim Binsalleeh, Mobarak Almulhim, Abdulrahman Alqahtani, Majid Alsalamah
Published in:
International Journal of Emergency Medicine
|
Issue 1/2019
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Abstract
Although emergency medical services (EMS) and pre-hospital care have existed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) since 1934, emergency medicine (EM) is a relatively new medical field in the country that was not formally recognized as a medical specialty until 2001. In 2005, the Saudi Board of Emergency Medicine formed to develop, implement, and evaluate a standardized curriculum for EM residents. Since then, EM and the pre-hospital system in the KSA has evolved and grown. This article provides an overview of emergency medicine in Saudi Arabia and the progress it has made in the pre-hospital system, healthcare delivery system, and emergency medicine training. Finally, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities faced as this specialty continues to develop.