Spatial Analysis and Accessibility Assessment of Primary Healthcare Centers in the Al-Shamal Municipality, Riyadh

Health services are among the most important indicators of urbanization in contemporary societies, as they contribute significantly to nation-building and development by substantially impacting various aspects of societal progress. This study focuses on the spatial analysis of the distribution of primary healthcare centers in AI-Shamal Municipality in Riyadh. The study aimed to examine the geographical distribution of primary healthcare centers across the neighborhoods of AI-Shamal Municipality and identify their spatial distribution pattern. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and relied on cartographic methods, along with several quantitative spatial statistical techniques, including mean center, central features, standard distance, directional distribution, geographic distribution density, and nearest-neighbor analysis. The study yielded several findings, the most significant of which indicate that AI-Shamal Municipality includes (11) primary healthcare centers distributed across (10) neighborhoods out of a total of (16) neighborhoods within the municipality. This reflects the existence of (6) neighborhoods lacking primary healthcare centers. The findings also revealed that AI-Shamal Municipality requires at least 19 additional healthcare centers to cover underserved neighborhoods and achieve the recommended population service standards in accordance with healthcare planning criteria. The study recommends reconsidering the geographical distribution of healthcare centers in AI-Shamal Municipality in line with the rapid urban growth occurring in the northern part of the municipality, as well as increasing the number of centers in underserved neighborhoods to promote spatial and social equity in healthcare services provision.