Health Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have reaffirmed their commitment to bolster bilateral cooperation in the realm of healthcare
Health Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have reaffirmed their commitment to bolster bilateral cooperation in the realm of healthcare. Their focus centers on the pivotal initiative of technology transfer for vaccine production.
This commitment was solidified during a meeting between Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel and his Pakistani counterpart, Dr. Nadeem Jan, held on the sidelines of the 70th session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt.
A statement from the Pakistani side elucidated, “The health ministries of both countries will work on the transfer of technology in vaccine production.” It further revealed that the ministers have reached an accord to promptly initiate an exchange of expertise. This endeavor will be spearheaded by a team of health experts tasked with formalizing the proposal and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the technology transfer.
The discussions extended to technical assistance in nursing and paramedic fields. It was decided that a Saudi delegation would embark on a visit to Pakistan to finalize recommendations and agreements in this domain.
Dr. Jan apprised Minister Al-Jalajel about the blueprint for establishing “Pharma Pak.” This initiative seeks to promote the local production of medicines within Pakistan. In response, Al-Jalajel extended his wholehearted support for this transformative project.
Furthermore, Minister Al-Jalajel affirmed Saudi Arabia’s backing for Pakistan’s ambitious plans to host its inaugural global health security summit scheduled for December 1-2.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have maintained longstanding diplomatic and defense ties. In recent times, they have been actively endeavoring to deepen their cooperation, aiming to augment the strategic significance of their relationship.
It is worth noting that a substantial number of Pakistani medical professionals are employed in hospitals across Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has recognized and appreciated the invaluable contributions of these Pakistani doctors, particularly during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic.