Saudi’s KFSHRC banks on innovation to transform healthcare

The hospital is accelerating adoption of emerging technologies to position itself as a global leader in medicine

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to cement its position as Saudi Arabia’s leading innovative hospital.

Integrating AI and robotics into medical procedures, enhancing electronic health records for predictive insights, and using technology to maximise resource efficiency is critical to staying on top of the game, Björn Zoéga, KFSHRC’s newly appointed deputy CEO, told Healthcare Asia.

“In my previous role at Karolinska, I witnessed the power of fostering an innovation-centric environment in driving transformative advancements,” he said, recounting his experience as the hospital director of Sweden’s Karolinska University Hospital 2019-2024.

Last year, the Riyadh-based hospital performed the world's first fully robotic living donor liver transplant, Zoéga said. This underscored the technology’s potential to minimise complication risks and recovery times.

He said the hospital also performed five pulmonary valve replacements using the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV) procedure, which is an alternative to traditional open-heart surgery.

Zoéga said their AI-powered Capacity Command Centre has cut patient waiting times from 32 hours to only 6.

“In parallel, we will focus on value-based healthcare, shifting from a volume-based care model to one that emphasises patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness,” he said, adding that patient safety and quality of care remain a priority.

However, Zoéga zeroes in on the initiatives enacted during his first 90 days as deputy CEO to lead the transformative wave.

“In my first 90 days at KFSHRC, I was focused on increasing our efficiency across different streams, including understanding the current patient journey and finding ways to enhance it,” he said.

He also vowed to prioritise optimising costs and reallocating resources toward direct patient care. The hospital seeks to foster quality care and uplift staff morale by minimising administrative roles and expanding specialist positions.

“KFSHRC's healthcare environment is evolving to be more efficient, responsive, and compassionate,” Zoéga added.

Established in 1975, KFSHRC is a hospital and a centre that prioritises research and education for healthcare advancement. Zoéga wants it to be seen as a global leader in medicine.

To achieve this, it is introducing training programmes on innovation and will expand its set of international accreditations to keep educational standards high. “Likewise, we will leverage international collaborations to boost our research capabilities and attract top-tier talent,” he said.

KFSHRC hires top-tier professionals to elevate its research and clinical expertise, Zoéga said. The hospital recently hired Jackie Ying, an American nanotechnology scientist who previously worked in Singapore.

The deputy CEO also cited the need for continuous professional development, capability-building, and leadership training for hospital staff to ensure they always provide quality service.

KFSHRC likewise seeks to bolster medical tourism. “We are committed to expanding medical tourism capabilities by leveraging cardiology, organ transplants, neurosciences, and oncology expertise,” he added.