Saudi Arabia Approves Establishment of Holding Company to Raise Effectiveness of Saudi Health System

Saudi Arabia approves the establishment of a major national holding company to raise the performance of the health sector. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia approves the establishment of a major national holding company to raise the performance of the health sector. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Approves Establishment of Holding Company to Raise Effectiveness of Saudi Health System

Saudi Arabia approves the establishment of a major national holding company to raise the performance of the health sector. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia approves the establishment of a major national holding company to raise the performance of the health sector. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has agreed to a government decision to establish the Health Holding Company to raise the effectiveness of the performance of the system, and approve the organization of the National Health Insurance Center.

According to official sources, the Ministry of Health will focus on regulating and supervising all public and private health institutions, while the Health Holding Company, via its local health subsidiaries, will provide integrated healthcare services to beneficiaries all around the Kingdom.

The supervisory committee for privatization in the health sector is set to be the constituent assembly of the Health Holding Company, and the main and additional members will represent the state’s share and exercise its powers.

Minister of Health, Eng. Fahd Al-Jalajel said the decision reflected the leadership’s interest in improving health care services provided to citizens and residents, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

He added that the decision would lay the legal foundations for implementing the transformation strategy within the Ministry, which will take place in successive stages over the coming years.

The sources noted that the Health Holding Company and its subsidiaries would be committed to applying the modern health care model, in accordance with the requirements set by the Ministry of Health.

The new company will provide specialized services such as caring for patients with cancer and kidney failure, developing critical care services, ensuring the speedy handling of heart attacks, strokes, and injuries, and expanding digital health programs and virtual medical care services.



Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
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Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received a delegation from Bahrain on Wednesday and met with the Bahraini foreign minister, state media reported.

The visit was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic overtures by Arab countries to Syria’s new leaders after they overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.

Like other Gulf countries, Bahrain had cut off diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad’s rule during the Syrian civil war, but it reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018 and gradually restored ties with the Assad government.

Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit, and days after Assad’s ouster it had sent a message to al-Sharaa offering its cooperation with the new authorities and saying, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.”