Saudi Arabia is likely to enhance its health system as part of a new partnership entered by the country with the China-based BGI Group. It will help with medical services localization, upgrade in the supply chain, and preventive healthcare promotion. Significant deal was signed by 2 December 2024, which is likely to beef up the efforts of the Kingdom to deliver good quality care for its population.
National Unified Procurement Company is a Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund subsidiary that signed a memorandum of understanding with BGI Group from Shenzhen. It was expected that this would fortify cooperation in health affairs, use the most advanced technologies by BGI, and advance health services as according to health transformation plans in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Minister of Health, Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, witnessed the signing ceremony in China, which was part of his official visit. The accord is part of the Healthcare Sector Transformation Program that targets the upgrading and integration of the country’s medical system. The program promotes innovation, financial sustainability, disease prevention, and widening access to health care, yet with the guarantee that its services would meet international standards.
The collaboration between Nupco and BGI Group is aimed at developing integrated logistics services for biological samples. This will strengthen the infrastructure of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector. The partnership emphasizes the growing role of Saudi Arabia as a global hub for digital health and innovation. Minister Al-Jalajel said that this collaboration also shows the commitment of the Kingdom to address global health challenges through technological advancements.
The partnership also strengthens the cooperation that has been ongoing between Nupco and BGI Group. In November 2024, a delegation of Nupco visited BGI Genomics in China to explore the company’s technologies in proactive disease prevention, multi-omics research, and smart laboratory solutions. The delegation was headed by Nupco CEO Fahad Al-Shebel, and they were welcomed by BGI Genomics CEO Zhao Lijian and BGI Group CEO Yin Ye. The two parties discussed expanding genetic testing, laboratory services, and medical sample transport for the advancement of life sciences in Saudi Arabia.
MoU also includes local genetic testing services improvement plans within Saudi Arabia to contribute towards the public health and precision medicine of the Kingdom. The partnership marks a significant stride for the Kingdom in terms of its healthcare transformation along with Vision 2030 and reinforcing its commitment toward providing the world-class services of healthcare through innovation.
