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.

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