Mr. Bassam Chahine

SMC Healthcare: A Strategic Partner in Advancing the Future of Healthcare under Saudi Vision 2030

SMC Healthcare continues to solidify its standing as one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s foremost providers of comprehensive healthcare services. Through ambitious strategies that seamlessly combine geographic expansion, technological innovation, and clinical excellence, the company is setting new benchmarks in the healthcare industry.

In this exclusive interview, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Bassam Chahine highlights the company’s remarkable journey and achievements over the past few years, its strategic approach to navigating competition and driving sustainable growth, and its forward-looking vision for building a fully integrated healthcare ecosystem. This vision is firmly aligned with the Kingdom’s aspirations for a more advanced, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare sector, reflecting the transformative goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Market Updates

With Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system undergoing significant transformation under Vision 2030, what proactive steps is SMC taking to align and thrive within this evolving landscape?

At SMC, we are fully aligned with Vision 2030’s goal of building a world-class, patient-centred healthcare system. Our strategy focuses on providing a fully integrated continuum of care, from acute inpatient services to specialized outpatient clinics, ensuring high-quality, accessible, and efficient healthcare delivery.

We continue to expand our footprint across Riyadh through the development of three major hospitals, SMC 3, SMC 4, and SMC 5, alongside SMC Clinics in Al Malqa, which will house 35 clinics covering a broad range of specialties. In parallel, we are committed to attracting top medical talent, including highly qualified physicians and nurses, to sustain the highest standards of clinical excellence.

These initiatives reflect SMC’s proactive approach to growth, creating a comprehensive, integrated healthcare network that directly supports the Kingdom’s vision for a more sustainable and advanced healthcare sector.

In a competitive market, what is SMC’s strategy for achieving financial viability and growth without compromising the high standards of patient care it provides?

SMC’s financial sustainability is built on a strategy that combines operational efficiency with clinical excellence. Over the past two years, we have successfully transitioned from government-based long-term care services to insurance-based and cash-based acute and outpatient care, which are more aligned with evolving market demand and offer stronger margins and faster cash cycles.

This transformation has enhanced our revenue quality, improved collection efficiency, and strengthened our financial position, all while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. We’ve achieved this by continuously investing in the best medical professionals and equipment, clinical governance, and advanced medical technologies.

With increasing competition, what are the key elements of SMC’s strategy to retain its market position and attract patients?

We are expanding our footprint into high-growth areas in Riyadh, supported by a well-defined rollout plan for outpatient clinics (60 in 2025 and an additional 35 next year at SMC Clinics) and hospitals designed to meet rising demand for specialized healthcare.

Our focus is on providing a fully integrated healthcare model that combines acute care with advanced outpatient services, supported by the latest medical technology and world-class clinical talent.

Operations & Innovation

What are SMC’s three biggest strategic successes from the last year and early 2025?

Successful IPO and listing on the Saudi Exchange, marking a pivotal step in the Company’s growth journey and enhancing its financial and institutional strength. Strategic shift from long-term care to acute and outpatient services, leading to stronger margins, faster collections, and improved quality of earnings. Geographical expansion in Riyadh, including the launch of a new outpatient clinic centre in Al Malqa and progress on new hospital projects that will significantly increase capacity over the coming years. Importantly, we achieved all of this while delivering strong earnings growth, reflecting disciplined execution and operational excellence.

Could you provide examples of how SMC is implementing technology to deliver superior patient care?

Our in-house developed mobile application allows patients to book appointments, check in, and make payments seamlessly, ensuring an effortless, technology-enabled journey across all our touchpoints. We continue to integrate advanced digital technologies across our facilities, including AI-powered radiology, automated insurance responses, and AI-based clinical recommendations.

What is SMC doing to speed up its digital transformation?

Digital transformation is one of our key strategic priorities. We are accelerating this journey through a combination of technology investments, process automation, and data-driven decision-making. We continue to improve and develop our in-house mobile application to allow more & new features, most powered by AI.

In parallel, we continue to expand AI-powered radiology, automated insurance processing, and predictive analytics to enhance clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.

Leadership & Personal Journey

Beyond its current headcount, what are SMC’s key initiatives for empowering and building the capabilities of the national healthcare workforce in line with the Kingdom’s objectives?

We have launched several initiatives focused on training, talent development, and career progression, including structured medical residency and fellowship programs, as well as administrative and leadership training tracks to prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders. In addition, we prioritize knowledge transfer through international partnerships and collaborations with global medical institutions to ensure our teams are exposed to the latest clinical and operational standards.  Our goal is not only to attract top national talent, but also to nurture and retain it, ensuring that SMC continues to contribute to the localization of the healthcare sector and to the Kingdom’s broader human capital development agenda.

After more than 25 years with SMC, what initially drew you to the company, and what ongoing factors have sustained your long-term commitment and passion?

The main reason for spending 25 years at SMC was the alignment of my personal values and professional goals to the specific culture and opportunities at SMC and the board strategy & ambition. I’ve never felt stagnant. The company valued me and aspired me to develop my expertise, and I’ve been fortunate to work on increasingly complex and challenging projects throughout my tenure, which has kept my work engaging and fulfilling.

What’s your long-term vision for SMC, and how will it impact the future of Saudi healthcare?

Our long-term vision is to position SMC as one of the leading integrated healthcare providers in the Kingdom, a model for quality, efficiency, and patient-centred care. We aim to play a central role in shaping the future of Saudi healthcare by combining clinical excellence, innovation, and accessibility. In the short to medium term, our focus remains on executing our growth strategy within Riyadh, including the development of SMC 3, 4, and 5, and expanding our outpatient network.

Once these projects are complete, we plan to extend our presence beyond Riyadh, bringing SMC’s integrated model of care to other high-growth regions across the Kingdom.

Ultimately, our ambition is to be recognized not only as a healthcare provider but as a key enabler of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, advancing healthcare quality, access, and sustainability for all communities.