His Excellency Minister of Health, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi National Institute of Health (SNIH), Professor Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel, expressed his great thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister - Chairman of the Supreme Committee for research, development and innovation, may Allah bless them, on the occasion of the Council of Ministers’ approval to establish the Saudi National Institute of Health (SNIH), and its organizational arrangements.
HE appreciated the continuous support of the wise leadership to the health sector for enablement of the field of translational research and clinical trials, which would achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and the goals of transformation in the health sector, to cope with national priorities and aspirations for research, development and innovation sector, which is announced by HRH Crown Prince - may Allah bless him - especially Human Health which is the top priority of His Excellency.
HE Minister of Health indicated that this approval will pave the way for the Saudi National Institute of Health to perform its role of supervising translational research and clinical trials in the Kingdom, supporting them, improving the surrounding environment, and creating an added value for these researches, by converting its results into health and economic benefits, which enhances individual and society health and raises its life quality, stressing that the institute will enhance prevention against health risks. It is one of the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030, which is based on the health sector transformation program by utilizing research, development and innovation in developing health policies and strategies, working on health priorities to serve patients and health care providers, and employing these results to improve human health, and contributing to increasing the return from health innovation, by developing innovative national products for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
HE Minister of Health said, "The Cabinet's resolution to establish the Saudi National Institute for Health Research comes in support of researchers in the health sector, outstanding competencies in the field of translational research, and clinical trials, to improve the health sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
HE added, “Establishment of the institute will have more impact, as it will benefit the country in light of the transformation in the health sector, including focusing on urgent national health priorities, translating knowledge outputs into products for diagnosis, prevention and treatment, in addition to enabling pharmaceutical industries, medical devices and national biotechnology institutions to develop Innovative products, bridging the gap between the outputs of basic science and its applications in clinical practices, reducing disease incidence and health care costs, supporting national health security, attracting investment from international medical companies, and increasing the return from research funding.
SNIH is one of the initiatives of the health sector transformation program, as this resolution comes as a complement to supporting the health transformation process, which started since the launch of the Saudi Vision 2030, preceded by a set of supportive decisions such as the establishment of the Saudi Patients Safety Center (SPSC) and the National Laboratory for Public Health, in addition to the National Health Emergency Operations Center (NHEOC).