Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, visited Saudi Arabia in February–March 2024 to foster partnerships and address key health priorities. Her discussions with local stakeholders focused on health workforce development and supply chain management to improve health services across the region.
Key Discussions on Health Workforce Development
During a meeting with Minister of Education Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Dr. Balkhy highlighted the need for enhanced investment in the health workforce. Their dialogue centered on joint initiatives to address workforce shortages, imbalances, and capacity-building for universal health coverage and health security.
Efforts will target:
- Scaling up workforce capacity to deliver essential public health functions.
- Building a future-ready and united regional health workforce.
- Developing sustainable solutions in partnership with the Ministry of Education to train well-equipped health professionals.
Collaborations with Health Authorities
Dr. Balkhy also engaged with the Commission for Health Specialties to address critical human resource challenges, including:
- Workforce planning and leadership development.
- Enhancing patient safety and health diplomacy.
- Strengthening board certification processes.
The goal is to improve the availability and quality of health services across the region.
Focus on Supply Chain Management
In a meeting with the National Unified Procurement Company, discussions revolved around opportunities for knowledge exchange to enhance supply chain efficiency. These efforts aim to ensure that essential medical supplies reach populations effectively and reliably.
WHO Country Office Visit
Dr. Balkhy concluded her trip with a visit to the WHO Country Office in Saudi Arabia, where she met the local workforce to understand their priorities and ongoing programmes. She expressed confidence in their ability to drive impactful initiatives and strengthen regional health outcomes under her leadership.
