09 June 2013
Mercer and Marsh collaborated to conduct this year's EMEA Healthcare Survey, collecting information on health care benefit programs provided to employees in 16 markets across Europe, Middle East and Africa. For the first time ever, Saudi Arabia has been involved in the survey, where Saudi health care market attracts foreign investments due to several reasons, said Dorian Hannington, Mercer Principal Employee Health & Benefits Leader in Riyadh.
"For the first time, we extended the geographic reach of the survey to include countries in the Middle East.
We are pleased to be able to provide unique insights into the health benefit trends across the EMEA region.
The survey was fielded online in late 2012 in 16 countries and seven languages. More than 500 employers took part in the survey and we are extremely grateful to all participants for such a strong response. Saudi Arabia has been involved in our survey; we believe that Saudi market is very promising one in terms of health care benefits," he said.
He added: "The survey has been running for a number of years. It has recently been extended to include the Middle East, and this is the first time we include respondents from Saudi Arabia. This reflects the maturing of the Saudi market. However, this is the first time we get the opportunity to contact companies within the Kingdom and we are very excited about this new step."
When asked about the Kingdom's position among the GCC countries, Hannington said that based on the survey, the amount of spending in Saudi Arabia was estimated at 7.5 percent of the total payroll cost for the Saudi companies.
"In the Kingdom, the vast majority of private sector companies must have health care coverage for employees. Most workers in the Kingdom are expatriates for whom health benefits are considered important and an attraction for them to apply for certain jobs. So in the UK, for example, companies care about employees' benefits and productivity," he said.
According to Hannington, the available insurance cover in the Saudi market is enough to cover the needs of private companies and their employees.
The survey confirmed that the main business sectors of the respondents were manufacturing (24 percent), professional services (9 percent), financial services (8 percent), wholesale/retail (8 percent), health care (6 percent), transportation/communication/utility (5 percent) and energy (4 percent).
The survey also indicates that employers recognize the important role health benefits play in talent management and emphasizes the need for employers to find creative ways to manage costs without devaluing the benefits.
"Employers are increasingly recognizing the role of health benefits as not just an employee benefit but as a tool to improve workforce productivity through greater employee engagement, motivation and reduced sickness. Many case studies have shown that investing in employee health can produce healthy business returns," he said.
The survey revealed that employers across EMEA are looking for ways to cope with health cost risks and 40 percent of employers are planning to invest in wellness programs to decrease these health risks.
Mercer and Marsh collaborated to conduct this year's EMEA Healthcare Survey, collecting information on health care benefit programs provided to employees in 16 markets across Europe, Middle East and Africa. For the first time ever, Saudi Arabia has been involved in the survey, where Saudi health care market attracts foreign investments due to several reasons, said Dorian Hannington, Mercer Principal Employee Health & Benefits Leader in Riyadh.
"For the first time, we extended the geographic reach of the survey to include countries in the Middle East.
We are pleased to be able to provide unique insights into the health benefit trends across the EMEA region.
The survey was fielded online in late 2012 in 16 countries and seven languages. More than 500 employers took part in the survey and we are extremely grateful to all participants for such a strong response. Saudi Arabia has been involved in our survey; we believe that Saudi market is very promising one in terms of health care benefits," he said.
He added: "The survey has been running for a number of years. It has recently been extended to include the Middle East, and this is the first time we include respondents from Saudi Arabia. This reflects the maturing of the Saudi market. However, this is the first time we get the opportunity to contact companies within the Kingdom and we are very excited about this new step."
When asked about the Kingdom's position among the GCC countries, Hannington said that based on the survey, the amount of spending in Saudi Arabia was estimated at 7.5 percent of the total payroll cost for the Saudi companies.
"In the Kingdom, the vast majority of private sector companies must have health care coverage for employees. Most workers in the Kingdom are expatriates for whom health benefits are considered important and an attraction for them to apply for certain jobs. So in the UK, for example, companies care about employees' benefits and productivity," he said.
According to Hannington, the available insurance cover in the Saudi market is enough to cover the needs of private companies and their employees.
The survey confirmed that the main business sectors of the respondents were manufacturing (24 percent), professional services (9 percent), financial services (8 percent), wholesale/retail (8 percent), health care (6 percent), transportation/communication/utility (5 percent) and energy (4 percent).
The survey also indicates that employers recognize the important role health benefits play in talent management and emphasizes the need for employers to find creative ways to manage costs without devaluing the benefits.
"Employers are increasingly recognizing the role of health benefits as not just an employee benefit but as a tool to improve workforce productivity through greater employee engagement, motivation and reduced sickness. Many case studies have shown that investing in employee health can produce healthy business returns," he said.
The survey revealed that employers across EMEA are looking for ways to cope with health cost risks and 40 percent of employers are planning to invest in wellness programs to decrease these health risks.
© Arab News 2013
