Today morning, His Excellency the Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohammad Bin Hamza Khoshaim, met the Swedish Vice Minister of Health, Mrs. Lena Furmark and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, both parties exchanged cordial talks, and then commenced a workshop between the two parties. The Saudi party was headed by Dr. Khoshaim, whereas the Swedish party was headed by the Swedish Vice Minister of Health; in the presence of members of both parties.
The workshop was started with a speech delivered by Dr. Khoshaim, in which he welcomed the head of the visiting Swedish delegation and its members. He stated that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is going through a developmental phase over the next ten years as per its 10-year strategic, comprehensive plan; the upcoming five years until 2020 will witness a tangible advancement, especially in terms of health services, health facilities, and human resources development. Afterwards, the head of the Swedish delegation gave a speech, in which she, on her own account and on behalf of the delegation members, expressed her pleasure to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Due to the significance of the Kingdom, the accompanying delegation, which included 10 members representing the biggest and most prominent medical companies in Sweden, is considered the biggest health delegation that has visited the Kingdom ever.
The Swedish Vice Minister of Health stated that the visit aims at activating the Memoranda of Understanding that were signed during the visit of His Excellency, the Swedish Minister of Health to the Kingdom. She indicated that many delegations have visited the Kingdom for the distinguished Saudi health system; due to its advancement and reliance on the most recent medical technologies to serve beneficiaries. Mrs. Lena mentioned that the Swedish Government is looking forward to strengthening prosperous cooperation between both countries in the health field.
Afterwards, the Advisor to the Vice Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Maqbool Al-Ghamdi, presented an illustrated visual presentation about the Ministry’s health developmental plan within its comprehensive 10-year strategic, integrated plan, its values, and the current situation of health resources and aspirations of the Kingdom in the upcoming five years, until 2020.
In addition, Dr. Al-Ghamdi displayed in the presentation pictures of the most significant MOH health facilities, statistics of its accomplishments and expectations about the development of these accomplishment during the upcoming period; as the number of hospitals will increase from 266 to 406, medical cities will be 5 instead of 2, and primary healthcare centres will be 2.750 instead of 2.269 centres. The Swedish Vice Minister of Health and the entourage expressed their admiration for what they have seen, hoping that their country will contribute to the Kingdom’s health system development.
Furthermore, the Swedish delegation viewed the Swedish health experience, the characteristics of the Swedish health system, the efforts exerted to attain patients’ safety, and health awareness by focusing on multi-resistance bacteria, how to limit its effects over the years, as well as the Swedish cooperation with other countries such as India, China, and Russia for developmental purposes in various health fields.