The Digital Health Forum continues in Riyadh as part of the Global Health Exhibition 2025, now in its eighth edition, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and supported by the Health Sector Transformation Program, which stems from Saudi Vision 2030. The forum is held under the theme “Inclusive Digital Health: Enhancing Vision, Strategy, and Scalable Impact”, bringing together leaders, innovators, and experts from within the Kingdom and abroad to discuss the future of digital transformation in healthcare and its role in building smarter, more sustainable health systems.
The forum emphasizes that digital transformation is the cornerstone of modern healthcare systems, expanding access to services through telemedicine and hybrid care models, improving chronic disease management via wearable devices and smart monitoring, and leveraging artificial intelligence tools to enable early intervention and reduce the need for hospital visits.
Participants are highlighting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to bridge digital and health gaps through the use of virtual health solutions, as well as the importance of standardizing international technical frameworks, such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), to ensure data reliability and global comparability.
The forum also features Malaysia’s experience in digital health transformation, presented by Dr. Maheswara Pannirselvam, Director of Digital Health at the Malaysian Ministry of Health, who outlines key aspects of innovation in digital infrastructure and the role of flexible regulatory environments in fostering investment, research, and innovation in healthcare technologies.
A key session highlights the “Cortex Health” initiative—an intelligent central platform for health data management—which contributes to analyzing national health indicators and measuring health and economic impact through responsible AI tools. The platform enhances system efficiency by integrating data-driven decision-making and targeted care delivery.
The forum further explores the concept of Hospitals 4.0, which integrates the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, and artificial intelligence to create patient-centered digital experiences and improve service quality, while emphasizing data governance, cybersecurity, and the establishment of secure cloud infrastructures aligned with national and international regulations, including the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Sessions also shed light on AI applications in diagnostics, treatment, and virtual care, and review global innovations in robotic surgery, digital twins, and smart imaging, as well as the use of virtual and augmented reality in medical training and surgical simulation. Discussions include the role of national health surveys in supporting digital public health infrastructure and transitioning from paper-based to smart analytics platforms, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for health data excellence.
The forum underscores the importance of empowering national talents in digital health through AI and data analytics training, alongside initiatives in digital mental health and the concept of “Hospitals Without Walls,” redefining care delivery beyond hospital settings using wearable technologies and connected home care solutions.
The Digital Health Forum will conclude on Thursday, October 30, with broad participation from global health industry leaders, technology experts, and innovators, discussing ways to accelerate digital transformation and build smart, sustainable healthcare ecosystems that enhance quality of life and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in health innovation.