Determining Variations in Access to Public Hospitals in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A GIS-Based Approach

Background: Variation in gaining accessibility to public hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, has not been investigated before. Good access to public health facility will lead to improvements in the population’s health. Maps and geographical information system (GIS) technology can provide assistance to address public health coverage issues. Aims: This study aimed to use GISs to identify spatial accessibility to hospitals in Makkah, based on the radius and drive-time analysis technique. Method: Using Quantum GIS (QGIS), a geodatabase was created to include 8 public hospitals’ locations and data of population distribution across the city. Buffer zones at 2.5, 5, 7, and 10 km radius from the public hospitals were identified and examined. Results: The findings revealed that most of the health facilities across the suburbs of Makkah were located in urban areas, while rural and remote areas were neglected. Conclusion: Public health facilities were distributed relative to high population density. One-third of the city’s population does not have proper access to healthcare services.