Challenges of the Health Informatics Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: What Stands in Our Way?

Abstract

Over the years, health informatics (HI) education has evolved in different patterns around the world. This evolution was accompanied by challenges that impede its ideal progress. Accordingly, there is a set of general challenges that face the education and training of the discipline and there are, as well, challenges that hinder its progression in every country in particular. This paper attempts to explore the challenges that face health informatics education and training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by examining the current state of health information technology education in general in the country with an emphasis on the HI education. An overview of the global challenges that face the field along with some suggestions to relieve this situation are also presented in this paper.