Dr Hanan Balkhy’s Saudi Arabia visit reinforced WHO collaboration with the Kingdom on health security, equitable access to medical products, and regional manufacturing aligned with Vision 2030.
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy, has concluded an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 11 to 14 January, marked by a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening collaboration on key regional and global health priorities. The discussions covered equitable access to medical products, climate and health linkages, digital cooperation, health system resilience, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
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During the visit, Dr Balkhy met senior representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Finance, Energy, Sports, and Industry and Mineral Resources. The meetings focused on enhancing multilateral cooperation, reinforcing regional health security, and supporting WHO flagship initiatives, while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in health diplomacy, humanitarian efforts, and sustainable development.
Dr Balkhy also held discussions with H.E. Dr Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs; H.E. Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Envoy for Climate; and H.E. Waleed Elkhereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Talks centered on shared priorities in global health and climate action, as well as deepening collaboration between the Kingdom and WHO across the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
A key pillar of the visit was the regional flagship initiative on equitable access to medical products. In meetings with H.E. Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, discussions explored how Saudi Arabia’s industrial capabilities, regulatory progress, Vision 2030 objectives, and the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative could support regional manufacturing of quality-assured medicines and vaccines.
“Access to medicines is not only a health issue, but a health, economic and security imperative for the Eastern Mediterranean Region,” said Dr Balkhy. “By leveraging Saudi Arabia’s leadership, industrial strength and strategic vision, we can help build more resilient and equitable supply chains serving over 750 million people across the Region.”
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“This visit reaffirmed the Kingdom’s strong partnership with WHO and its commitment to advancing health during crises and beyond,” said Dr Balkhy. “Together, we can translate policy, innovation and investment into tangible health gains for communities across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and beyond.”
