Finland, Saudi boost health-sector cooperation

Health and Social Affairs Minister Pirkko Mattila is now in Riyadh on a 4-day follow-up visit to a Finland-Saudi Arabia collaboration agreement in the health sector signed last year.

Mattila, who is leading a Finnish delegation that arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on September 10, said, “Finland stands at the forefront in health technology, health promotion, health-related science, research and expertise. We have a lot to offer in digital infrastructure and cost-efficient healthcare and wellbeing solutions. I am very happy that our countries share this common interest in bringing new solutions for global health challenges.”

During the visit, Mattila met with her Saudi Arabian counterpart Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah. Besides, several high-level bilateral meetings have taken place with agendas covering cooperation in health technology and digital services, health promotion, health education, and family health service, said a government press release.

The Finish delegation also has visited the Global Health Saudi Exhibition, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Primary Health Care Centre, and Vision Realisation Office.

The press release said the memorandum of understanding signed in August 2017 is strongly business-oriented and enables intensive bilateral cooperation, especially between health-sector actors and companies.

During the current visit, a couple of Finnish companies have signed agreements on further business collaboration with Saudi-Arabian businesses in the margins of Global Health Saudi Exhibition, the release added.