Education, healthcare and housing – the basic needs of families – require huge budgets. The Saudi National Transformation Program 2020 seeks to address this issue, in support of the Saudi Vision 2030, by reducing dependence on government funding. As part of this plan, the Health Ministry recently announced privatization programs by transforming large health institutions into medical companies, adopting private sector strategies. The Housing Ministry is also carrying out its plans to reduce dependence on government funding through a two-pronged approach – to rely on the real estate sector to build houses for eligible citizens rather than depending on government financial support, and to accelerate the process of providing housing loans to them through real estate financing bodies and banks. This would enable flexible financing solutions. Since February, 2016, the Housing Ministry has announced more than 127,000 housing projects and financing transactions, bringing the total to 280,000 by mid-December. This is indeed praiseworthy because it reflects the implementation of declared plans, avoiding delays, and curbing price manipulations on the part of some people for personal gain. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach initiated by the Housing Ministry, and now announced by the Health Ministry as well, is also expected to be adopted by the education sector. Quality will be the basis for such partnerships. PPP is a strategic approach that needs to be taken forward with all earnestness. The Ministry of Housing has set an example which could be adopted by all to meet the needs of the common people.
