The Red Crescent establishes an emergency fund to ensure the sustainability of emergency services
In a strategic move aimed at transforming the emergency medical services sector, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority signed a pivotal cooperation agreement with the Health Endowment Fund. This agreement aims to establish the “Emergency Fund,” an initiative designed to ensure the sustainability of ambulance services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and enhance the healthcare system’s preparedness to handle various emergencies and crises.
Details of the agreement and the work mechanism
The agreement stipulates the establishment of a dedicated fund to finance ambulance activities and services, while also opening the door to collecting endowment and non-endowment donations from the community and the private sector. These resources will be managed in accordance with the Kingdom's approved regulatory and Sharia frameworks, ensuring that financial support is directed directly towards enhancing operational readiness. The partnership primarily aims to channel the fund's returns to support critical, high-priority response programs, thereby positively impacting the speed of response and the quality of service provided to the injured and sick.
The context of health transformation and Vision 2030
This step comes within the context of the significant transformation underway in the Saudi Arabian healthcare sector, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, specifically the Health Sector Transformation Program and the Quality of Life Program. The Kingdom seeks to enhance the role of the non-profit sector and endowments in healthcare development, making them a supportive pillar for government efforts. The Health Endowment Fund is a pioneering model in this field, working to find sustainable financing solutions that contribute to improving the efficiency of healthcare services and reducing the financial burden on the general budget, while also engaging the community in the reward and national contribution.
The strategic importance of the emergency fund
This event is of paramount importance given the vital role the Saudi Red Crescent Authority plays as the first line of defense in emergencies. With the Kingdom's urban expansion and population growth, the need for advanced and sustainable ambulance services that are not solely reliant on traditional government funding is increasing. The new fund will enable the Authority to modernize its fleet, provide the latest medical technologies, and continuously train its personnel, thereby enhancing the efficiency of its response to traffic accidents and sudden health crises, ultimately contributing to the ultimate goal: saving lives.
The Authority confirmed at the end of its statement that the Emergency Fund represents a practical translation of the modern concept of endowment, as it transforms donations into tangible services that directly touch people’s lives, through an integrated system managed with high standards of efficiency, transparency and sustainability.
