Access to primary healthcare (PHC) is a critical determinant of health outcomes. Saudi Arabia's wide geographic nature can contribute to variations in healthcare access, which can potentially influence the population's health. Understanding spatial access to PHC is vital for resource planning and allocation to improve healthcare access and optimize universal health coverage (UHC).

Objective:

This study aims to establish a Healthcare Access Score (HAS) in Saudi Arabia using the Enhanced 2-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) method to evaluate spatial accessibility to PHC and investigate its association with healthcare utilization and health outcomes.

Methods:

Data concerning population density and national addresses were sourced from the National Civil Registry System, while health information was obtained from the National Unified Health Record. Healthcare facilities' locations were obtained from the National Health Facility Records. Lastly, considering distance and travel time to PHC, the E2SFCA method will be used to calculate HAS and assess spatial accessibility to PHC centers across various cities and geographic areas.

Results:

We anticipate variations in accessibility across different geographic areas, indicating disparities in access to PHC. Higher HAS regions should correlate with increased healthcare utilization and better population health outcomes, demonstrated by improved morbidity and mortality rates.

Conclusions:

This in-progress work is expected to provide a novel method for assessing healthcare access in Saudi Arabia and serve as a valuable resource for population health management efforts. By identifying areas with limited access, this research can inform resource allocation decisions to enhance healthcare accessibility and ultimately improve population health outcomes.