In the 1960s, the growth in oil production in Saudi Arabia turned the country into a regional and global power, thus Saudi Arabia's importance in the region grew. This continued rise in wealth meant that huge investments were made by the country's leaders, in order to improve the standard of living across the country. Health in the rural areas of the country became more accessible during this period. This expansion required health facilities, which saw the first major rural expansion of medical care in the country's history.