Saudi Arabia Partners with China’s BGI Group to Enhance Healthcare System
JEDDAH: In a groundbreaking move, Saudi Arabia is set to revolutionize its healthcare system through a strategic partnership with China’s leading BGI Group. The collaboration aims to localize medical services, streamline supply chains, and elevate preventive care to cater to the needs of the Kingdom’s population.
On Dec. 2, the National Unified Procurement Co., a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, inked a memorandum of understanding with Shenzhen-based BGI Group. This partnership intends to boost healthcare cooperation and harness BGI’s cutting-edge expertise to enhance the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services in Saudi Arabia.
The signing ceremony, which took place in China, was graced by the presence of Saudi Minister of Health Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, who is currently on an official visit to the country.
This agreement aligns perfectly with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Healthcare Sector Transformation Program, which seeks to modernize and integrate the country’s medical infrastructure.
The transformation initiative focuses on fostering innovation, ensuring financial sustainability, and preventing diseases, while also expanding healthcare access, boosting e-health services, and elevating care quality to meet global standards.
As part of the MoU, Nupco and BGI will collaborate on developing integrated logistics services for biological samples, thereby fortifying Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector infrastructure.
Al-Jalajel emphasized Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global hub for digital health and innovation, showcasing the Kingdom’s dedication to tackling worldwide health challenges through the partnership with BGI.
This visit to China by the minister is part of broader endeavors to deepen health collaborations and solidify Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in health innovation, in line with the Health Transformation Program and Vision 2030.
Following a visit by a Nupco delegation to BGI Genomics in November, the two entities have forged a strong relationship. The delegation, led by Nupco CEO Fahad Al-Shebel, was introduced to BGI Genomics’ cutting-edge technologies in disease prevention, multi-omics research, and smart laboratory solutions.
BGI’s leadership, including CEO Yin Ye and CEO of BGI Genomics Zhao Lijian, welcomed the delegation, marking a significant milestone in the growing collaboration between the two organizations.
During discussions, both sides expressed a mutual commitment to expanding cooperation in genetic testing, laboratory expansion, and medical sample transportation to advance life sciences.
BGI highlighted plans to enhance localized genetic testing services in Saudi Arabia, supporting the Kingdom’s public health and precision medicine initiatives for improved health outcomes.
This partnership signifies a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare transformation journey, reinforcing its vision to provide top-notch medical services while driving technological innovation in the sector.