Advanced cancer diagnostics and treatment have made Saudi Arabia an important location in the Middle East. Modern oncology treatment, with specialist oncology centers, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and cancer targeted therapy, stem-cell transplantation and complex cancer surgery, is available to patients today without having to leave the Kingdom all the time.
However, for many families, the most important ones are not just questions of medical quality. They also ask if treatment is affordable, if they can be referred to the government hospital, if their insurance would be accepted by the hospital, and which hospital has the appropriate specialists working with the type of cancer.
Saudi Arabia provides a combination of government referral hospitals, specialist medical centers and private hospitals in major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah and more. Which is best for the patient depends on the diagnosis, stage of the cancer, the treatment needed, and the patient’s financial and insurance status.
Why Saudi Arabia Is Important for Advanced Cancer Care
Today, multiple medical specialties are commonly involved in the treatment of cancer.
Different members of the medical oncology team might be involved at various parts of the treatment.
The use of multidisciplinary care in major oncology centers in Saudi Arabia is growing, with experts discussing complex cases and coming up with coordinated treatment plans.
This technique can be helpful for patients who have:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Myeloma
- Brain tumors
- Gynecological cancers
- Multiple or metastatic cancers
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre – Riyadh
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH) is one of the leading specialist cancer referral hospitals in Saudi Arabia.
Its Adult Oncology Centre is said to be the biggest cancer centre in the Gulf and offers services in radiation oncology, haematology, and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. According to the hospital, over 5,100 bone marrow transplants have been conducted in the hospital’s program.
Advanced Cancer Services
The oncology program offers services such as:
- Medical oncology
- Hematology
- Stem-cell transplantation
- Bone marrow transplantation
- Radiation therapy
- Cancer research
- Multidisciplinary treatment
- Supportive care
The radiation oncology program features cutting-edge technologies like CyberKnife, TomoTherapy and intra-operative radiation therapy.
In cases of complicated blood cancers and/or tumors that may need highly specialized treatment, KFSHRC may be considered via the referral process.
King Fahad Medical City Comprehensive Cancer Center – Riyadh
Another significant oncology hospital in Riyadh is the Comprehensive Cancer Center at King Fahad Medical City.
The center treats patients referred to it from the Ministry of Health system and patients from all over Saudi Arabia for haematology and oncology.
It provides care in adult medical oncology, adult haematology/bone marrow transplantation, paediatric haematology/oncology, radiation oncology and palliative care.
Advanced Radiation Treatment
King Fahad Medical City has several advanced radiation techniques, among which are:
- 3D conformal radiation therapy.
- IMRT
- VMAT
- Total-body irradiation
- HDR brachytherapy
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Stereotactic radiotherapy
There are also diagnostic services like CT, MRI and mammography and PET-CT imaging.
For patients requiring multiple services in a single health care system, this care may be beneficial.
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre – Jeddah
Another option for western Saudi Arabia patients is to access a wide range of oncology services at KFSHRC in Jeddah.
The oncology department covers the treatment of cancer, blood disorders, medical oncology, adult haematology, paediatric haematology and oncology, radiation oncology, palliative care and bone marrow transplantation.
Complex cancers are treated with multidisciplinary programmes at the hospital too.
It offers technologies in the field of radiation oncology, including:
- IMRT
- VMAT
- IGRT
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Total-body irradiation
- Intra-operative radiation therapy
- Brachytherapy
These sophisticated treatments can assist doctors tailor your radiation therapy plan to your cancer and clinical status.
Saudi German Health – Private Oncology Care
Alternatively, patients with health insurance or who choose to pay for their treatment directly can opt for private healthcare.
Saudi German Health is an oncology and hematology clinic in Riyadh that caters to adults and children.
The advanced care services provided are listed and include radiotherapy, immunotherapy, CT-guided biopsy, interventional radiology, advanced cancer imaging, rehabilitation, pain management and oncology nutrition.
Individual chemotherapy treatments in the home
- Oncology consultations
- Hematology
- Radiotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Cancer imaging
- CT-guided biopsy
- Pain management
- Rehabilitation
- Interventional radiology
- Oncology nutrition
Patients might have the flexibility of scheduling their appointments with private treatment, but it is important to check the treatment cost and insurance coverage before treatment.
What is “World-Class” Cancer Treatment?
The term “world class cancer care” is not just expensive care.
There are some factors that influence the quality of oncology care.
Specialist Cancer Teams
Cancer is many diseases.
A breast cancer patient, leukemia patient and brain tumor patient require very different specialists.
Hospitals that have disease-specific oncology teams might be better suited to provide a more coordinated approach to complex care.
Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards
The multidisciplinary tumor board provides a chance for multiple specialists to discuss a patient’s case.
This may include:
- Medical oncologists
- Surgeons
- Radiation oncologists
- Radiologists
- Pathologists
- Hematologists
- Other specialists
This can be useful for deciding if surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these is needed.
Advanced Imaging
A proper diagnosis is required prior to treatment.
Cancer hospitals can use:
- CT scans
- MRI
- PET-CT
- Mammography
- Ultrasound
- Specialized pathology
Imaging is also significant in follow up to evaluate the response to the treatment.
Modern Cancer Treatment Options in Saudi Arabia
Saudi oncology hospitals might offer multiple treatment options based on the type and stage of cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves a treatment with the use of chemicals to kill or to manage cancer cells.
Treatment may be given:
- Before surgery
- After surgery
- Together with radiation
- The treatment of choice for most cancers.As the first choice in cancer treatment therapy.
- In advanced or recurrent disease, we will choose the most suitable treatment for each individual patient.
The number of treatment cycles depends on the treatment protocol and patient’s response.
Radiation Therapy
In radiotherapy, cancer cells are killed by high-energy radiation.
Some of the techniques in the modern oncology centers may be able to provide radiation with a greater degree of precision.
These include IMRT, VMAT, IGRT, stereotactic radiotherapy and brachytherapy.
In appropriate patients, advanced radiation technologies can diminish the radiation dose to surrounding normal tissues.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy makes the immune system recognize and attack some cancer cells.
But not all cancer is suitable for treatment by immunotherapy.
There are a number of considerations that doctors will think about:
- Cancer type
- Biomarker results
- Disease stage
- Previous treatment
- Patient health
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is aimed at particular molecular or genetic features of cancer.
Doctors may require the use of a molecular or biomarker test before they can decide whether or not a targeted medicine is a good choice for a patient.
Stem-Cell Transplantation
For some types of blood cancer, stem-cell or bone marrow transplantation may be a treatment that is important.
KFSHRC has an extensive stem-cell transplant program, and KFMC also has stem-cell transplant services for adults and children.
Treatment of cancer can be costly in Saudi Arabia.
For different patients, “affordable” can have a variety of meanings.
Individual costs can vary significantly from a government-funded patient treated at a government hospital, to a patient paying privately into a private hospital.
Cancer treatment costs do not have a set price.
These are the main expenses to consider:
- Doctor consultations
- Laboratory tests
- Biopsy
- Pathology
- CT scan
- MRI
- PET-CT
- Molecular testing
- Hospital admission
- Cancer surgery
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Radiation sessions
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted medicines
- Stem-cell transplantation
- Follow-up treatment
Treatment duration could also be a factor in the cost.
For instance, a single procedure will be different in terms of cost to a treatment that lasts several months.
Government hospitals are not as well-equipped as private hospitals.Private hospitals are better equipped than government hospitals.
Families can better plan for treatment by understanding the difference between government and private treatment.
Government Cancer Hospitals
For those who may require attention in the government and specialist referral hospitals in the following cases:
- May be referred for action
- UPS requires cancer treatment that is highly specialized.
- Require complicated surgery
- Need stem-cell transplantation
- Require multidisciplinary care
- Have complex or rare cancers
Always double check with the hospital about referral requirements.
Private Cancer Hospitals
Private hospitals might be more appropriate for patients who:
- Be covered by private health insurance.
- How much does it cost to get treated?- Do you have the money to pay for treatment?
- Do you wish to have a specific consultant?
- Prefer private appointments
- Need specific services
- Desire more appointment options
Private doesn’t necessarily mean better treatment and government doesn’t necessarily mean cheaper for every patient.
Eligibility and insurance will determine the actual situation.
Involves the discussion of health insurance and cancer treatment.Discusses health insurance and cancer treatment.
The amount patients pay themselves can vary greatly with health insurance.
Patients will want to check with their policy before treatment, and see if they are covered for:
- Oncology consultation
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Cancer surgery
- CT or MRI
- PET-CT
- Hospitalization
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted medicines
- Molecular testing
- Follow-up care
Certain treatments may need to be pre-authorized.
Not all cancer medicines are always covered in a hospital if it is part of an insurance network.
Determine how to avoid unplanned costs related to cancer treatment.Identify ways to prevent unforeseen cancer treatment costs.
There are some practical steps families can take prior to treatment.
Ask for a written treatment plan.Request a written treatment plan.
Seek medical advice about the order in which treatments will be administered.
For example:
Diagnosis → surgery → chemotherapy → radiation → follow-up.
When you know the route you are likely to take, it is easier to plan finances.
You can request an itemized cost estimate to determine the total cost of the project.
Whereas for private patients, they may inquire about whether the quotation covers:
- Doctor fees
- Medicines
- Hospital charges
- Imaging
- Laboratory testing
- Treatment sessions
Always examine insurance coverage before undergoing a major treatment.Always check insurance before major treatment.
In no way should authorization be found during or after treatment.
If you have any doubts, seek a second opinion.
For patients who want to understand more about their treatment options before undergoing extensive surgery or treatment, a second opinion could help.
Selecting the right cancer hospital is essential for your treatment.It is crucial to choose the right cancer hospital.
The best cancer hospital is based on the patient.
If you’re looking for a hospital, you need to think about:
- Cancer type
- Cancer stage
- Have had experience in treating the cancer.
- Availability of specialist oncologists
- Surgical expertise
- Radiation technology
- Chemotherapy facilities
- Immunotherapy access
- Molecular testing
- Stem-cell transplant facilities
- Insurance coverage
- Referral eligibility
- Location
- Long-term follow-up
Convenience also matters.
Some cancer treatments involve multiple hospital visits over the course of several weeks/months.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Saudi Arabia, does there exist any advanced cancer hospital?
Yes. There are specialized major hospitals that offer the latest diagnosis and treatment for cancer including medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, and advanced cancer treatment methods.
Do you believe that chemotherapy is available in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Major oncology centers offer very extensive chemotherapy.
Is the Advanced Radiation Therapy service offered?
Yes. Advanced radiation techniques like IMRT, VMAT and stereotactic treatment are available in major centers like KFMC and KFSHRC.
Yes, Immunotherapy is available in Saudi Arabia.
Yes. Immunotherapy is offered at certain oncology clinics and private healthcare facilities like Saudi German Health, but will not be available for all cancers.
Is cancer treatment covered by insurance?
Depending on the policy, hospital network, benefit limits and authorization requirements, a private health insurance plan may provide coverage for a portion of or all cancer-related services.
So, which Saudi City is better for cancer treatment?
Both the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah are home to large specialist oncology centers. The best place will depend on the type of cancer, treatment needed, and if the patient is referred and can access specialists.
Final Thoughts
Saudi Arabia, through both government referral hospitals and specialist oncology centers and private healthcare providers, is offering increasingly sophisticated cancer care.
Spoken by 378,000 million people, Arabic is also widely used in major cities like King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre and King Fahad Medical City, and there are other options for insured and self-paying patients—such as private healthcare providers.
To patients and families a lower advertised price for cancer care isn’t just about the hospital that is the least costly.
What’s more important is to research into a hospital that can offer the proper treatment and is aware of who qualifies for referral, insurance reimbursements and the total cost of the treatment program.
Before making significant treatment decisions, patients need to be diagnosed, receive pathology and imaging reports, consult with an oncologist to discuss the case, explore options for treatment and ask for an explanation of coverage and cost.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational and/or educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or a recommendation of one hospital over another. Qualified medical practitioners should make plans for cancer treatment after diagnosis, based on the severity of the cancer, the individual patient’s clinical situation and medical history.