Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan have signed a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to expand cooperation in healthcare, covering virtual care, health insurance, digital transformation, medical education, and workforce development.
The agreements were signed during the official visit of Fahad AlJalajel, Saudi Minister of Health, to Tashkent. The minister participated in a healthcare roundtable with Jamshid Kuchkarov, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Aliyeva Tamila Anvarovna, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration for Healthcare Reform, and Eldor Adilov, Uzbek Minister of Health.
Bilateral healthcare cooperation
The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, promoting investment, and expanding the exchange of expertise in the healthcare sector.
Fahad AlJalajel emphasized that the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan have created opportunities to expand cooperation in healthcare and investment. AlJalajel highlighted that the Kingdom’s Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030 provides a framework for sharing expertise, improving healthcare services, and supporting cooperation between the two countries.
Virtual care and health insurance agreements
The visit also saw the signing of several agreements and executive programs between healthcare institutions in Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
An executive program was signed between Saudi Arabia’s Seha Virtual Hospital and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health to cooperate in virtual healthcare services.
Another executive program was concluded between the Kingdom’s Center of National Health Insurance and Uzbekistan’s State Health Insurance Fund to strengthen cooperation in healthcare financing, training, professional development, and joint research.
Image Credits: SPA | Cropped by GBN
Digital health link launched
During the visit to Uzbekistan, Fahad AlJalajel also launched the digital link between Saudi Arabia’s Seha Virtual Hospital and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health at the headquarters of UZINFOCOM Single Integrator, following a visit to the Digital Health Center in Tashkent.
The initiative enables direct digital connectivity between healthcare providers in the two countries, allowing doctors to conduct remote consultations, diagnosis, and treatment around the clock.
It also facilitates cross-border collaboration, knowledge exchange, and access to the expertise of Saudi medical professionals, supporting the development of healthcare services in both countries.
The Saudi ministry underscored that the initiative builds on Saudi Arabia’s experience in digital health and virtual medicine and supports continued cooperation and investment in the healthcare sector.
Image Credits: SPA | Cropped by GBN
Digital health and workforce development
Lean Business Services signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health to support digital transformation in healthcare through consultancy services, capacity building, and digital health training.
The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties also signed three memoranda of understanding with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health, Tashkent State Medical University, and the Center for the Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers.
The agreements cover cooperation in medical education and training, nursing and primary healthcare competencies, continuing professional development, and healthcare workforce development.
