HEALTHCARE

SAUDI SHIFTS FOCUS ON BOOSTING PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAI

To address the kingdom’s healthcare challenges, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) signed a deal with Eva Pharma, one of the region’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies. The deal will see the country investing and building an industrial complex for pharmaceutical manufacturing and research.

The agreement also aims to develop industries capable of delivering pharmaceutical security, enabling Saudi Arabia to hold its position as an industrial powerhouse and logistics hub for vaccines and medicines.

Modon has allocated 50,000 square metres (sq m) of industrial land in Sudair city for the construction of an industrial complex, which will produce more than 150 pharmaceutical products, manufacturing 990 million units a year. The agreement also envisages consolidating technologies provided by the complex's Research and Development Centre, as well as working with universities and hospitals in the kingdom to ensure a rapid response to production requirements.

“Modon seeks to be the preferred destination for investment growth and the first partner of the industrial and technical entities, as stated in its vision statement, by providing an attractive industrial environment that increases the competitiveness of the sector locally and internationally,” according to the company

Modon also signed a SAR 500 million investment agreement with the Vaccine Industrial Company (Vaccine) for a joint venture factory in Sadeer City to strengthen the pharmaceutical security system, and localise the manufacturing of vaccines and vital medicines in the kingdom.

The 42,000 sq m plant aims to create around 150 new jobs and achieve 20% export of vaccines for seasonal flu virus, COVID-19, chickenpox, and rotavirus, in addition to pneumococcal and meningitis vaccines, given the strong demand for Saudi pharmaceutical exports in neighbouring countries.

                  

Earlier this year, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) created Pharmaceutical Investment Company (Lifera), a commercial-scale contract development and manufacturing organisation, to boost the local biopharmaceutical industry, and raise the kingdom’s profile as a global pharmaceutical manufacturing destination.

The investment builds on PIF’s aspiration to innovate and enhance the healthcare eco-system, and create significant opportunities for the domestic private sector.

“In its eorts to enable the supply chain of medicines, PIF has also invested in the National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO), the leading provider of medical procurement, storage, and distribution services for medicines, devices and medical supplies to the Saudi healthcare sector. Since 2017, PIF has established 79 companies across its 13 strategic sectors,” the company said.

In addition, the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA), NUPCO, Sudair Pharmaceutical Company and Sanofi have agreed to localise the manufacture and transfer of knowledge of insulin products, which is a top priority for the health sector.

The latest Global Health Exhibition in November builds on that investment growth. The event saw 300 local, regional and international companies from 29 countries, and features the latest healthcare innovations and technologies in digital health, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies.

All told 138 agreements, memoranda of understanding, and deals worth over SAR13.3 billion were signed during the event, which attracted around 111,000 local and international visitors.

The event is seen as one of the most prominent events in healthcare, attracting local, regional and international companies to showcase the latest innovations and technologies in the medical and health fields. Its many specialised conferences and workshops ensure a valuable and distinctive experience for visitors.

   

The latest healthcare statistics from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) suggest 37.5% of adults (15 years and above) have private health insurance, while it was 19.5% among children (0-14 years).

As many as 46.8% of adults visited their medical doctors for health check-up at least once a year. On the other hand, 5% of adults and 2.3% of children had unmet needs of healthcare for reasons related to healthcare system.

The survey also showed that 46.8% of adults (15 years and above) have undergone a medical check-up at least once a year, and the percentage increases remarkably 70.1% among older age groups (80 years and above).

A separate survey showed that 53% of adults (15 years and above) and 70.9% ofchildren and adolescents (0-14 years) in the kingdom had a very good or good perception of their health status; among women, 30% of have a negative perception of their health condition, while among adult men (15 years and above), the percentage stands at 25%.

The Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics 2023 Report showed that 34.6% of total births in the country were C-section deliveries.

According to the report, prenatal care figured highly, with 88.8% of women visiting licensed healthcare providers at least four times before delivery. Skilled attendance during childbirth was remarkably high at 99.8%, ensuring safe deliveries.