Saudi Health Minister seals new research deals in Sydney roundtable

Saudi Health Minister seals new health research deals in Sydney.

Sydney I SA NEWS : Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister, Fahad Al-Jalajel, has capped his official visit to Australia with a high-level roundtable in Sydney, hosted by the Saudi-Australian Business Forum and attended by leaders from the health and innovation sectors.

The event was also attended by Saudi Arabia’s Consul-General in Sydney, Mashari bin Ali bin Naheet, along with an accompanying delegation.

The gathering saw the signing of a series of memoranda of understanding between Saudi Health Holding Company, the National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) and major Australian firms in medical diagnostics and clinical research.

Mr Al-Jalajel said the agreements mark “a significant step” in building integrated healthcare solutions and advancing clinical research in genomics and biotechnology. He stressed that the partnerships would reinforce Saudi Arabia’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for advanced medical research, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 health sector transformation program.

The Sydney talks formed the final stage of the minister’s Australian tour, which also took him to Melbourne and Canberra for meetings with government officials, universities and research institutes aimed at deepening cooperation in health innovation and investment.

Saudi and Australian health ministers strengthen ties in Canberra

“Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel meets with Australian Health Minister Mark Butler in Canberra, accompanied by Saudi Ambassador Sultan Fahad A. Bin Khuzaim.“

Canberra, SA News   Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel met with his Australian counterpart, Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler, in the capital today to explore ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in healthcare, digital innovation and investment in the pharmaceutical sector.

The meeting, attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Sultan Fahad Bin Khuzaim, underlined both governments’ commitment to closer health ties and to opening new avenues for collaboration.

Al-Jalajel said Saudi Arabia’s health sector is undergoing a major transformation as part of Vision 2030, with a focus on prevention, patient empowerment and value-based care. He noted that the Saudi pharmaceutical and biotechnology market, now valued at more than AUD 9 billion, presents “promising opportunities for strategic partnerships,” adding that health-related trade with Australia represented 14 per cent of the Kingdom’s imports from Australia in 2024.

Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in digital health, the minister pointed to the launch of the world’s largest virtual hospital, which has already delivered more than 50 million consultations. He stressed that cooperation with Australia would help accelerate global adoption of virtual health technologies and build “a more efficient, high-quality and sustainable future for healthcare.”

Al-Jalajel also held talks with Blair Comley, Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care and chair of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board, focusing on digital health priorities and workforce sustainability. He said Saudi Arabia’s appointment as Vice-Chair of the WHO Executive Board for 2025–2028 reflects its commitment to global health, pandemic preparedness and equitable access to medical innovation.

The visit concluded with a roundtable involving officials from both countries’ health ministries, aimed at sharing expertise in digital health and building pathways toward more sustainable healthcare systems.

Saudi Health Minister begins official visit to Australia

Canberra SA News I 15 August 2025 – Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Fahad Al-Jalajel, has begun an official visit to Australia with stops in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

The visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in public health, digital health transformation and medical innovation, as well as explore investment opportunities and partnerships between health institutions in both countries.

In Melbourne, Al-Jalajel met Saudi scholarship students at Monash University, praising their role as ambassadors for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. He highlighted the Human Capability Development Program, which equips students with skills and knowledge for global competitiveness.

The minister will also meet senior Australian officials and visit leading healthcare facilities and research centres to exchange expertise in biotechnology, health technologies and ambulatory services.