RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to enhance cooperation on health, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel and Moroccan Minister of Health and Social Protection Khalid Ait Taleb inked the accord in Rabat.
The MoU aims to support and develop health services and exchange expertise, and covers therapeutic and preventive medicine, and digital health and pandemic management, the report said.
A statement by Morocco’s health ministry said that the accord called for cooperation on improving health care quality and patient safety, and in combating pandemics and epidemics, including early detection and control measures, as well as in scientific research in health and medicine. It also facilitates information exchange in telemedicine.
Left to right: Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Sami bin Abdullah Alsaleh, Moroccan Minister of Health and Social Protection Khalid Ait Taleb, Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel and Saudi Assistant Deputy Health Minister Rakan Khalid bin Dohaish. (SPA)
The MoU will also “allow exploring opportunities for collaboration in blood services to ensure the availability of safe and sufficient blood supplies in both countries,” said the statement, as reported by The Barlaman Today, a Moroccan publication.
The MoU’s provisions will be implemented through an exchange of information and expertise, organizing expert visits, conferences and seminars, as well as training in the health sector.
Minister Ait Taleb briefed the Saudi delegation on Morocco’s extensive health care reform initiatives, including efforts to expand social protection, achieve universal health coverage, and advance the pharmaceutical and vaccine industries, the statement added.
In remarks to the media following the meeting, Al-Jalajel said that his visit to Morocco was “part of the historical relations between the two brotherly countries within the framework of joint Arab action.”
Al-Jalajel’s meeting with his Moroccan counterpart was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Sami bin Abdullah Alsaleh and an official delegation from the ministry, including Assistant Deputy Health Minister Rakan Khalid bin Dohaish, who is in charge of international collaboration affairs.
The delegation visited several governmental and private institutions in Morocco, including the National Institute of Health and a vaccine manufacturing plant, during which opportunities for cooperation were explored and discussed.
