The Minister of Health Fahd Al-Jalajel, alongside World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, led the inaugural strategic dialogue between Saudi Arabia and WHO via video conference from Riyadh. Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, also attended.
During the August 13-14 dialogue, senior officials from the Ministry of Health, relevant Saudi authorities, and WHO representatives engaged in discussions.
The talks underscored a mutual commitment to fortifying health cooperation, fostering joint initiatives, supporting global health endeavors, and jointly addressing health crises.
Key topics included historical partnerships, regional and international health concerns, healthcare investments, the economy, and scientific research. Deliberations also revolved around the Kingdom's Health Sector Transformation Program, which focuses on improving care, preventing health risks, and bolstering public health efforts. The dialogue delved into Saudi policies to enhance healthcare efficiency, digital health accessibility, and road traffic safety.
The strategic dialogue session included a review of the organization's program and objectives, and the Kingdom's priorities on the international agenda, such as antimicrobial resistance, digital health, patient safety, universal health coverage, and health emergencies.
For his part, the Minister of Health welcomed in his speech the participants in the first strategic dialogue between the Kingdom and the World Health Organization, from representatives of the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health, and the participating ministries and entities. He stressed the importance of the strategic dialogue in light of what the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is doing to support the health sector and benefit from international expertise and partnerships, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, noting that the strategic dialogue is an important step to enhance future cooperation between the two parties towards a more strategic partnership, including the exchange of expertise and knowledge in the field of health care.
Al-Jalajel highlighted the robust strategic partnership evolving since the Kingdom joined WHO in 1961. Discussions centered on achieving broader global health collaboration, encompassing health emergencies, antimicrobial resistance, data management, and digital health innovations.
The WHO Director-General said: “The Kingdom is an important strategic partner of the World Health Organization, and together we have made important strides in addressing global health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, improving health data, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to emergency operations in many countries.”
He emphasized that today’s dialogue provides a forum for communication on shared priorities in the context of WHO’s Global Health Strategy 2025-2028 and the 14th General Programme of Work, including the investment round, scaling up primary health care, strengthening health systems, improving preparedness, prevention and response to health emergencies, and addressing the root causes of disease, including the threat of climate change.
Dr. Hanan Balkhi stressed the importance of the Kingdom as the only G20 country in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and its central role through its experience, leadership and leading voice in promoting health. She said: “Through this strategic dialogue, we look forward to continuing our strong cooperation and building partnerships between the organization and the Kingdom.