THE FUTURE OF ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS IN SAUDI ARABIA: DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to define and analyze the major difficulties experienced and documented in a university teaching hospital. METHODOLOGY: The academic medical center (AMC) reviewed was the King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU), Al-Khobar, Eastern Saudi Arabia. Data sources included student registration figures, budget allocation and the hospital annual reports. The retrospective analysis was restricted to difficulties encountered. RESULTS: While numbers of medical students increased, staff positions remained static. There was remarkable budgetary deficiency over 9 years; especially for pharmacy, equipment's and supplies. The number of patients’ visit markedly increased. The difficulties encountered were 237 in 70 sections of KFHU. Other problems included recruitment difficulties and the triple role for the faculty; teaching, researching and service. CONCLUSION: The role of leadership is emphasized to provide answers for the problems; to manage AMC's more efficiently; to find ways of providing medical care more cost-effectively and to generate more funds.