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More newsSCFHS Announces Admission Results for the 2026 Saudi Board Programs
2026-08-23The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) announced the first batch of admission results for the 2026 Saudi Board programs in major specialties and diplomas, with 7,925 applicants admitted. The Commission affirmed that the matching process remains ongoing and that subsequent batches will be announced successively. The Commission explained that the results are being announced in batches as coordination with training centers and sponsoring entities is finalized, taking into account the regulatory arrangements associated with each training seat. The Commission congratulated those admitted in the first batch and wished them success in their training journey. It acknowledged the importance of the results to applicants’ professional aspirations, noting that finalizing the arrangements associated with each training seat is intended to support trainees throughout their professional journey. It clarified that applicants who were not included in the first batch of admission results will remain in the matching process for subsequent batches without the need to take any additional action. Admission will be based on candidates’ ranking in the matching process and the availability of training seats for which all requirements have been completed. The Commission explained that this year it introduced a new procedure requiring verification that sponsorship arrangements for each trainee have been completed before admission is announced. This procedure is implemented in coordination with training centers and sponsoring entities and pursuant to the Council of Ministers Resolution regulating the Health Practitioners Training Program. It is intended to finalize the necessary arrangements, ease the burden on admitted applicants, and facilitate their enrollment in their respective training programs. Under these arrangements, trainees who are employed will be sponsored by their employers, while those who are not employed will be sponsored by the training centers to which they have been admitted. The Ministry of Health oversees private-sector training centers’ provision of sponsorship for healthcare practitioners in training who are not employed and follows up to ensure its completion. This supports practitioners’ stability from the first day of their training programs. The Commission stated that 19,608 applicants applied to the Saudi Board and diploma programs, of whom 13,868 were eligible to enter the matching process, representing 70.7% of all applicants. The number of approved training seats for this year reached 9,245. It noted that the number of approved training seats this year is 11.4% higher than the 8,298 trainees admitted last year, reflecting the continued expansion of training capacity and the opportunities available to healthcare practitioners. In Medicine and Surgery specifically, the number of new university graduates reached approximately 4,700, compared with approximately 6,400 approved training seats included in this year’s matching process. This expands the range of opportunities available to both new graduates and graduates from previous years. The Commission indicated that the planning and approval of training seats were subject to a comprehensive governance framework that took into account population growth, healthcare needs across different regions, and the operational capacity of training centers. The framework also considered sponsorship arrangements related to the sustainability of training seats and the quality of training, as well as the need to strengthen partnerships with training centers and supporting entities, thereby contributing to the expansion of training opportunities available to healthcare practitioners. Across healthcare fields, Medicine and Surgery recorded the highest number of applicants in 2026, followed by Dentistry and Pharmacy. Nursing and Midwifery recorded the highest growth in applicant numbers, at 55.2%. Several specialties recorded increases in the number of applicants selecting them as their first preference compared with 2025. The number of applicants selecting Family Medicine as their first preference increased from 1,448 to 1,548; Internal Medicine from 1,039 to 1,331; Pediatrics from 631 to 875; Emergency Medicine from 762 to 845; General Surgery from 423 to 573; Orthopedic Surgery from 411 to 522; and Diagnostic Radiology from 306 to 445. In terms of the total number of applicants for each specialty, Family Medicine ranked first with 4,126 applicants, followed by Internal Medicine with 3,578 and Emergency Medicine with 3,426. The Commission called on applicants admitted in the first batch to review the timeline and complete the required procedures. It noted that the deadline for completing registration requirements is September 15, 2026, and that the training programs will begin on October 1, 2026. Applicants admitted in subsequent batches will be given batch-specific deadlines, which will be announced alongside their admission results. The Commission affirmed that it will continue working with government entities providing sponsorship and training centers to implement the regulatory frameworks governing the Health Practitioners Training Program, expand training capacity, and complete admission procedures in a manner that supports practitioners’ stability and meets the needs of the healthcare sector in the Kingdom.
During the 101st Meeting of the SCFHS Board of Trustees: The Number of Healthcare Practitioners Surpasses 800,000
2025-12-15The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) recorded a 7.6% year-on-year increase in the number of registered healthcare practitioners, bringing the total to more than 800,000. The announcement was made during the 101st meeting of the SCFHS Board of Trustees, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Riyadh and attended by representatives from the government, private, educational, and specialized sectors. His Excellency the Minister of Health and Chairman of the SCFHS Board of Trustees, Mr. Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel, extended his gratitude to the wise leadership, may Allah protect it, following the announcement of Saudi Arabia’s 2026 budget and for its continued support for the healthcare sector. He highlighted the projects included in the budget, which will increase hospital bed capacity, expand specialized services, enhance the quality, efficiency, and inclusiveness of healthcare services, and improve access to care. His Excellency also expressed his appreciation to the wise leadership for the support and attention given to the healthcare sector and for the generous royal patronage extended to the 2025 graduates of SCFHS programs. He commended the success of this year’s graduation ceremony, which celebrated more than 12,500 graduates from the Saudi Board and Health Academy programs. He also praised the efforts of SCFHS and its employees in organizing the ceremony, which was attended by more than 20,000 graduates and their families. His Excellency welcomed the Board members and expressed his appreciation to the outgoing members for their efforts during their tenure. He also welcomed Dr. Asim bin Yahya Najmi, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Jazan University, as a member of the SCFHS Board of Trustees representing the deans of colleges of pharmacy. During the meeting, the Board reviewed the performance indicators report and the Commission’s key achievements for the fourth quarter of the year. These included an increase in the number of training seats available across various health specialty programs to more than 10,900, representing growth of over 17% compared with 2024. The number of healthcare practitioners registered as SCFHS members also rose to more than 800,000, reflecting a year-on-year growth rate of 7.6%. The Board also reviewed SCFHS’s efforts in health workforce planning, including an assessment of labor market needs in nursing and among clinical assistants through 2034. These efforts also included integration with the education system by establishing standards and classifying health qualifications for scholarship pathways, as well as alignment with the National Labor Observatory to annually monitor the performance and career pathways of Saudi university graduates in health fields. The Board further reviewed efforts supporting preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and sports medicine. These efforts include increasing the supply of qualified healthcare professionals to expand the capacity of the healthcare system, developing specialized sports medicine programs, and signing several agreements with the Saudi Pro League and the Ministry of Sport’s Leaders Development Institute. The Board congratulated SCFHS on receiving several awards and recognitions, including the “State of the Art” Award for Excellence in Performance Measurement, presented by the Global Performance Audit Unit of The KPI Institute; the Internal Audit Award in the Bronze category for the government sector; eight international awards for the Commission’s “Reviving Nations” video marking Saudi National Day and Founding Day; and an advanced ranking in the Digital Government Authority’s Digital Transformation Measurement (Qiyas), placing SCFHS among the top 25% of 229 government entities. The Board concluded its meeting by commending the achievements of the previous period and reaffirming its full support for achieving the objectives of the next phase.
