Digital Maturity Tour kicks off in Riyadh

The Digital Maturity Tour launched in Riyadh on January 28, 2025, bringing together global and local healthcare experts for a knowledge exchange on innovation and digital maturity in international health systems. An ExpertLab at King Saud University featured in-depth discussions on the framework conditions for digital health adoption and the impact of Saudi Vision 2030 on advancing innovation and high-quality care.

The Digital Maturity Tour is on a Mission: We call on leaders, policymakers, and innovators to unlock the full potential of the digital hospital for the healthcare of today.

In his presentation Prof. Dr. Volker Amelung from Hannover Medical School, Germany, a leading expert in international health system comparison emphasized that speed is a critical factor in healthcare transformation, stating, “It’s not a lack of money or technology – but we are often simply too slow.” He contrasted Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress with the slower evolution of healthcare digitization in Germany, highlighting Vision 2030 as a remarkable example of ambitious reform. He underscored the importance of identifying the tipping points in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey, so that other nations can learn from its successes.

It’s not a lack of money or technology – but we are often simply too slow.

Prof. Amelung also highlighted the importance of digital maturity tools in driving and managing digital health system transformation. In Germany, DigitalRadar enabled the government to assess the impact of a €4.3 billion funding program aimed at digitizing hospitals and improving their digital maturity. Similarly, in Saudi Arabia, the SEMA framework has played a crucial role in guiding hospitals through their digital transformation journey, ensuring sustainable progress and measurable improvements in healthcare delivery.

Caring for everyone, everywhere.

An onsite visit to the Seha Virtual Hospital (SVH) provided first-hand insights into how digital technologies are revolutionizing care delivery, optimizing hospital operations, and advancing the Kingdom’s vision for a world-class, digitally enabled healthcare system. Operated by the ministry of Health, SVH has been recognized as the largest virtual hospital in the world (Guinness Book of Records). The telemedicine network plays a pivotal role in expanding access to specialized healthcare across Saudi Arabia’s regions.

The next stop of the Digital Maturity Tour is in Glasgow, Scotland and will focus on Digital Innovations in Diabetes Care. (March 24, 2025)