TOWARDS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN RIYADH: A GIS-BASED ANALYSIS OF KIDNEY DISEASE HOSPITALS DISTRIBUTION AND SITE SELECTION FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The availability of hospitals and medical facilities specializing in certain medical treatments, such as nephrology centers, is essential to the prognosis of people who suffer from kidney disease. Patients with kidney illness have the highest risk of being adult patients who require hospitalization. This is because kidney disease is a lifetime ailment that requires continuous treatment from the medical system. Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. The goal of this study is to investigate the spatial layout of the country's nephrology facilities, evaluate how readily different neighborhoods may access these important resources, and make recommendations for the optimal places for the building of new nephrology centers in Riyadh. To carry out an exhaustive examination, this work made use of the methodologies and resources provided by GIS. To identify any potential spatial clustering of hospitals in Riyadh that treat kidney sickness, the researchers utilized a tool called the Spatial Statistics Tool, specifically the Global Moran I. In addition, we made use of a technology developed by the World Health Organization called Accesmod to model the actual distance (both by car and on foot) to various nephrology centers. This modeling took into account everything from the locations of nephrology center sites to the distribution of the population, transportation networks, trip scenarios, and land use concerns. According to the findings of our inquiry, the geographic distribution of nephrology centers in Riyadh does not follow any apparent or statistically significant trend across the city's landscape. An investigation of the suitability of potential locations for the future creation of nephrology facilities was carried out so that this gap could be filled and the most advantageous locations could be identified. Based on a well-defined list of GIS criteria, we have determined that nine (9) great locations would be an excellent choice for the development of these essential healthcarefacilities. The findings that have been described in this article can serve as a helpful resource for legislators and medical experts, and they have crucial repercussions for the planning of healthcare, the allocation of resources, and the general well-being of patients in Riyadh who suffer from renal disease. Site selection, accessibility, spatial statistics, geographic information systems, and geographical distribution are some of the keywords that might be used here.