DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2025.v11i10.014

Pages: 1015-1020

Referral systems represent the structural link between different tiers of health care, ensuring patients receive appropriate, timely, and continuous management. Effective referral mechanisms prevent fragmentation, duplication, and inequity while optimizing limited specialist resources. In the Gulf and Middle East, fast-growing populations, epidemiologic transitions, and significant digital-health investments have reshaped how referrals operate. This review synthesizes evidence from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Lebanon, examining referral models, common bottlenecks, and emerging innovations. Across the region, digital transformation through national health information exchanges (HIEs) has advanced rapidly, yet persistent challenges remain, particularly in gatekeeping, interoperability, workforce training, and governance. The review concludes with policy and research recommendations aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) strategy for people-centered integrated health services.