ISLAMABAD: The health ministers of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed on Monday to enhance bilateral collaboration in the field of health care, vowing to work together on the transfer of technology for the production of vaccines.
The announcement came after Pakistan’s health minister Dr. Nadeem Jan met his Saudi counterpart, Fahad bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Jalajel, on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo on Monday.
“The health ministries of both the countries will work on the transfer of technology in vaccine production,” a statement from the Pakistani side said, adding that the ministers agreed on an exchange of expertise “soon” through a team of health experts to formalize the proposal and MoU for the transfer of technology.
Technical assistance in the field of nursing and paramedics between the two nations was also discussed and it was decided that a Saudi delegation would visit Pakistan to finalize recommendations and agreements.
Jan informed the Saudi minister about the plan to set up Pharma Pak, under which the production of medicines in Pakistan would be promoted, and Al-Jalajel offered his full support for the project. He also said Riyadh would support Pakistan in its plans to organize the South Asian nation’s first global health security summit on December 1-2.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always enjoyed close defense and diplomatic ties, and in recent years have sought to broaden and deepen their cooperation and add more strategic value to the relationship.
A large number of medical professionals from Pakistan are employed at hospitals in Saudi Arabia, which recognized the services of Pakistani doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
