For cancer treatment, Saudi Arabia has an expanding network of government specialist hospitals, medical cities, university hospitals and private healthcare centers that provides access to advanced oncology services for cancer patients.
The decision between a government or private hospital may be influenced by the type of cancer, the stage of the disease, referral criteria, the patient’s health insurance, the location, treatment options and the need for particularly specialised treatments like stem-cell transplants or advanced radiation therapy.
The major cancer treatment centres in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Dammam and Dhahran are available. Certain hospitals specialize in severe referrals, and for those who have insurance or pay out-of-pocket, private hospitals might offer other alternatives.
The purpose of this guide is to inform you about some of the top government and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia that might be able to help you with cancer.
In Saudi Arabia, there are government cancer hospitals and specialist cancer hospitals.Saudi Arabia has government and specialist cancer hospitals.
The Government and specialist referral hospitals are major components of the cancer-care system in Saudi Arabia. They can offer the following services for cancer: multidisciplinary oncology, chemotherapy, radiation, hematology, surgery, and/or specialized cancer programs.
1. King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre – Riyadh.
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) is one of the biggest oncology programs in Saudi Arabia.
It asserts that its Adult Oncology Centre is the largest cancer centre in the Gulf region in Riyadh. Medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and palliative care services.
KFSHRC says the hospital’s stem-cell transplant program has conducted over 5,100 bone marrow transplants.
Major Oncology Services
- Medical oncology
- Hematology
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation oncology
- Bone marrow transplantation
- Stem-cell transplantation
- Palliative care
- Cancer research
- Multidisciplinary treatment
KFSHRC also offers cutting-edge radiation technologies such as CyberKnife, TomoTherapy and intra-operative radiation therapy.
The patient may be referred to a specialist centre, like KFSHRC, for patients with highly specialised treatment or complex solid tumours or leukemia and lymphoma cases.
2. King Fahad Medical City Comprehensive Cancer Center – Riyadh
The Comprehensive Cancer Center at King Fahad Medical City is one of the biggest referral hospitals for hematology and oncology patients in Saudi Arabia.
The center admits patients from all over the Kingdom and offers cancer treatment, radiation therapy and palliative care.
It can provide the following services:
- Adult medical oncology
- Hematology
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation oncology
- Pediatric oncology
- Stem-cell transplantation
- Palliative care
KFMC is one of the most prominent hospitals in the Kingdom to consider for those looking for a complete government facility in Riyadh for cancer treatment.
3. King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre – Jeddah
This is also the case in Jeddah with the extensive cancer services available through KFSHRC.
Medical oncology, adult hematology, pediatric hematology and oncology, bone marrow transplantation, radiation oncology, palliative care and oncology research are services offered at the Jeddah oncology department.
The hospital is especially relevant to cancer patients in western Saudi Arabia that are in need of complex cancer or blood-disorder treatment.
Radiation oncology services can also encompass high-tech procedures, and patients may have more than one specialist involved in their care, when the situation calls for it.
4. Princess Noorah Oncology Center – Jeddah
Princess Noorah Oncology Center is part of the MOHAJIAT TANFIR, King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah.
The oncology center has several specialties, including:
- Adult medical oncology
- Radiation oncology
- Hematology
- Bone marrow transplantation
- Pediatric oncology
- Gynecologic oncology
- Palliative care
The center treats a variety of cancers, including solid tumor types, lymphoma and leukemia.
For those in Jeddah and western region who need specialist cancer care, Princess Noorah Oncology Center is an important option.
5. King Abdullah Medical City Oncology Center – Makkah
King Abdullah Medical City Oncology Center is one of the largest cancer centers that are part of the Ministry of Health in Makkah and its surrounding regions.
The center offers treatment for adult cancers under four divisions:
- Medical oncology
- Hematology
- Radiation oncology
- Palliative care
King Abdullah Medical City says that the center is capable of treating breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer, gynecological cancers, brain tumors, genitourinary cancers, head and neck cancers and hematological malignancies.
Multidisciplinary tumor boards are also used for discussions of cases.
Private Cancer Hospitals in Saudi Arabia
For patients with private health insurance, or those who choose to pay their own health care costs, private healthcare may also be an important choice.
The price for private cancer treatment may vary considerably, so check to see if it is authorized by insurance companies and ask for a written treatment estimate prior to starting therapy.
6. Saudi German Hospital – Jeddah
Saudi German Health offers oncology and hematology services in various hospitals in Saudi Arabia.
It has an oncology department in Jeddah that offers the following services related to cancer:
- Radiotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Advanced cancer imaging
- CT-guided biopsy
- Interventional radiology
- Pain management
- Rehabilitation
- Oncology nutrition
- Blood-disorder treatment
The hospital has oncology and hematology wards for both adults and children.
Saudi German Hospital Jeddah is thus one of the private hospitals to take into account when trying to compare private oncology care.
Saudi German Health also runs hospitals in other cities of Saudi Arabia such as Dammam, Madinah and Riyadh.
7. Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital – Jeddah is the name of the hospital.
Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital is one of the biggest private hospitals in Jeddah.
Fakeeh Care reports that the hospital’s beds include 400 inpatient beds, 120 outpatient clinics and 15 operating theatres.
It offers a broader range of healthcare services, including specialist departments that are pertinent to the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of cancer.
Before choosing the hospital, patients seeking private cancer treatment in Jeddah might consider the following: availability of oncology specialists, insurance coverage, diagnostic centers, treatment needs and expenses.
8. Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare – Dhahran
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare has an Oncology Institute in Dhahran that provides specialist cancer and blood-disorder care.
Its oncology program comprises of adult oncology, paediatric oncology, radiation oncology and palliative care.
The Adult Oncology Clinic provides multi-disciplinary treatment for solid tumors, with individualized treatment plans.
Certain cases are discussed at weekly tumour-board meetings in which specialists gather to review the laboratory results, imaging and treatment options.
JHAH Oncology Services
- Adult oncology
- Pediatric oncology
- Hematology
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Breast cancer services
- Bone marrow transplantation
- Palliative care
- Multidisciplinary tumor boards
JHAH also has an Oncology Center of Excellence specializing in breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.
At present JHAH is accepting self-paying patients and insurance patients in select networks but anyone’s eligibility and network status should always be double checked before entering treatment.
In Saudi Arabia, there are two types of cancer hospitals: government and private.Saudi Arabia has two types of cancer hospitals, government and private.
Highly sophisticated cancer treatment is often possible in both government and private hospitals, although this service might not be available in the same location and may not be covered by the same payment system.
Government Hospitals
People who: may be better suited to a government specialist hospital:
- Must have acceptable government referral
- Needs very specialised cancer treatment
- Need complex surgery
- Require stem-cell transplantation
- Need multidisciplinary management
- Advanced Oncology Services needed.
Each institution may have different referral and eligibility criteria.
Private Hospitals
Patients who: consider private hospitals may:
- Have private health insurance
- Want private consultations
- Prefer specific oncologists
- Are self-paying
- Desire more speedy access to chosen services
- Prefer not to travel long distances to a hospital for treatment
If possible, private hospitals should give an accurate price estimate before treatment.
There are many cancer treatments available in Saudi Arabia.In Saudi Arabia, there are many cancer treatments available.
Saudi cancer hospitals may offer several different treatment methods.
Cancer Surgery
Surgery can be performed when a tumor can be safely removed and when surgery is deemed to be appropriate for the patient’s cancer.
Breast, colorectal, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, urologic, thoracic, neurological and other specialized surgical procedures may be involved in cancer surgery.
Chemotherapy
Many solid tumors and blood cancers are treated with chemotherapy.
Treatment options can vary widely and depend on:
- Cancer type
- Cancer stage
- Medication
- Dosage
- Number of cycles
- Patient health
Radiation Therapy
Many major cancer hospitals in Saudi Arabia provide radiation oncology.
Advanced techniques can include:
- IMRT
- VMAT
- IGRT
- Stereotactic radiotherapy
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Brachytherapy
Not all techniques are suitable for all patients.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy may enable the immune system to identify or attack some forms of cancer.
It is applied for certain cancers based on diagnosis and biomarkers, cancer stage and previous therapy.
Targeted Therapy
Specific genetic or molecular abnormalities in cancer cells may be targeted by specific drugs.
In some cases, biomarker or molecular testing may therefore be required prior to considering the use of targeted therapy.
Stem-Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation
Leucemia, lymphomas, myeloma and certain blood diseases may necessitate a hematopoietic stem-cell transplant.
These complicated procedures are usually offered in special oncology and hematology centers.
Cancer Treatment Cost in Saudi Arabia
Depending on various factors, the cost of cancer treatment will vary.
The final cost might be influenced by:
- Hospital type
- Oncology consultation
- Biopsy
- Pathology
- CT scan
- MRI
- PET-CT
- Molecular testing
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Stem-cell transplantation
- Hospital admission
- Follow-up care
For private patients, it is advisable to ask for an itemised quote, and find out if the quoted amount is for a single treatment or a full treatment course.
Health Insurance for Cancer Patients
Private health insurance may be able to substantially lower the costs of treatment that will need to be paid by the individual, although it depends on the insurance policy.
Patients should verify:
- If the hospital is in-network or not
- Whether the oncologist is covered
- Chemotherapy authorization
- Radiation coverage
- Surgery coverage
- Imaging coverage
- Immunotherapy coverage
- Targeted medicines
- Hospital admission limits
- Annual benefit limits
- Pre-authorization rules
Don’t presume that all cancer medicine and treatment is covered.
Relocating to a government or private cancer hospital might be the best option.Migrating to government or private cancer hospitals could be the key solution.
No one hospital will be the right fit for every cancer patient.
Patients should consider:
- Type of cancer
- Cancer stage
- Any experience the hospital has had with that cancer
- Required specialist
- Surgery availability
- Radiation facilities
- Chemotherapy services
- Immunotherapy availability
- Stem-cell transplant program
- Insurance coverage
- Government referral eligibility
- Location
- Follow-up requirements
If a patient has early-stage breast cancer, he or she might need a different kind of facility than a patient with leukemia who might need bone marrow transplantation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are government cancer hospitals in Saudi Arabia.Yes, there are government hospitals specializing in cancer treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Yes. There are multiple government and specialist referral hospitals that offer oncology services in Saudi Arabia, such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah.
In Saudi Arabia, can one find Private Cancer Hospitals?
Yes. There are private healthcare providers offering oncology and cancer related services like Saudi German Health and other private hospitals.
Chemotherapy is available in Saudi Arabia.
Yes. Chemotherapy is available for suitable cancer patients at major government or private oncology centres.
Is Immunotherapy Available?
Yes. There are several specialized oncology clinics that offer immunotherapy, but it is only suitable for certain types of cancer and certain patients.
Yes, private health insurance can pay for the treatment of cancer.
Coverage is dependent on the insurance policy, hospital network, and treatment and authorization requirements.
Which Hospital is the Best Place for Cancer Patient?
The type and stage of cancer, the treatment needed, the expertise of the different specialists, insurance or referral requirements and the specific medical needs of the patient will determine which hospital is the right one.
Final Thoughts
Saudi Arabia provides cancer patients with a mixture of large government hospitals, specialist hospitals and medical cities and private hospitals.
The OJI provides a wide range of oncology services, and there are also a number of private and independent providers that offer services for those insured and self-paying.
One should not select just a government or a private hospital for cancer treatment.
But most critical is the hospital’s experience with the particular cancer, the availability of the right cancer specialists, diagnostic and treatment technology, and access to advanced therapies and a long-term follow-up plan.
Educate yourself before beginning treatment for cancer by collecting your doctor’s medical records, pathology and imaging reports, and talking with a well-trained oncology team about treatment choices, verifying referral or insurance qualifications, and getting a treatment plan and cost estimate.
Medical Disclaimer
Article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer medical advice, diagnosis, recommendations for medical treatment or list the ranking of hospitals. Qualified health care professionals should make cancer treatment decisions following a patient’s diagnosis, cancer stage, and his or her medical history and personal clinical situation.