JEDDAH: The pharmaceutical sector has played a major role during the coronavirus pandemic in the Kingdom by working with the Ministry of Health to protect people in the country, according to the CEO of Al-Nahdi Medical Company.
Yasser Johari said the sector had been working to ensure that all necessities were available during the ongoing health emergency, and that it was an active partner with Saudi authorities.
“(The sector) has been stable under the direct regulation (and) supervision of the Ministry of Health and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority,” he told Arab News. “We have always been an active partner to the regulators here.”
The company has more than 700 branches and is expanding its health care provision and presence in line with the Kingdom’s National Healthcare Transformation Program, which seeks to improve the quality of services and facilities.
Al-Nahdi offered home delivery of medicine and repeat prescriptions as the country went into lockdown. “We consider medicine one of the most important necessities, especially when we talk about ... patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and others,” Johari added.
“We took a very strategic decision at the early stage of the pandemic to double our stocks and make sure that we have 24/7 direct pickup to home delivery for our clients, to make sure that they’re really being looked after during the pandemic.”
The Ministry of Health launched several apps to help patients in the Kingdom during lockdown. One of these was the “Wasfaty” (my prescription) app.
The app aims to ensure the availability of medicines by linking hospitals and primary health care centers with community pharmacies, so that patients are able to get the medicine they need from a location that is closest to them.
One of the app’s features is a medicine delivery service to COVID-19 patients in quarantine, so that doctors can write a prescription electronically after diagnosing the patient. This feature helps to improve the health care services provided to patients and ensure treatment continuity.
The app also has a repeat prescription feature for people with chronic diseases. Patients can contact the app’s customer service center on 920000932 and the team contacts the relevant physician to review the patient’s file and re-issue the prescription.
The patient can get medication from community pharmacies participating in the service without the need to visit a primary health care center or hospital.
Al-Nahdi CEO says pharmacies active players during pandemic
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Al-Nahdi CEO says pharmacies active players during pandemic
- “We consider medicine one of the most important necessities, especially when we talk about ... patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension”
Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with Saudi FM, Arab ministers at Syria meeting
- The meeting was held on the sidelines of the main Aqaba meetings on Syria
AQABA: Jordan’s King Abdullah II emphasized the strategic importance of Syria’s stability for the Arab world and the broader region during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Aqaba on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The gathering also included members of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria, foreign ministers from several countries, and representatives from international organizations.
King Abdullah underlined the critical need for a unified and effective international stance to safeguard Syria’s security, protect its citizens, and uphold its sovereignty.
He highlighted the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity against any external interference or aggression while reinforcing its national institutions.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the main Aqaba meetings on Syria, which also included top diplomats from the US and Turkiye Antony Blinken and Hakan Fidan.
Riyadh festival celebrates Saudi creativity, theatrical arts
- The Riyadh Theater Festival reflects the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent to achieve a strong presence on the regional and international stage
RIYADH: The Theater and Performing Arts Commission will host the second Riyadh Theater Festival at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.
The commission’s CEO Sultan Al-Bazie announced details of the event, which runs from Sunday to Dec. 26, to an audience of leading figures from the theater world and the media at the Saudi Music Hub.
The festival, he said, was a cornerstone for enhancing the theatrical movement in the Kingdom and raising public awareness of the performing arts.
HIGHLIGHT
The Riyadh Theater Festival reflects the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent to achieve a strong presence on the regional and international stage.
This year’s event would feature 20 performances, selected by a committee of experts, to reflect the diversity of theatrical arts in the Kingdom, including its intellectual and developmental programs, Al-Bazie said.
The festival will also honor the late Ahmed Al-Sabbagh, who was a notable figure in the field.
The Riyadh Theater Festival reflects the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent to achieve a strong presence on the regional and international stage.
It will conclude with the presentation of awards to the distinguished performers.
Saudi minister meets national security official at the Middle East Institute
- They discussed enhancing the partnership between the Saudi ministry and the institute, as well as other topics of common interest
RIYADH: Saudi Vice Minister of Finance Abdulmuhsen Al-Khalaf met Joseph L. Votel, a distinguished senior fellow on National Security at the Middle East Institute, in Riyadh, the Finance Ministry said on X on Saturday.
During the meeting, they discussed enhancing the partnership between the Saudi ministry and the institute, as well as other topics of common interest.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Maldives to the Kingdom Ahmed Sareer recently met Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi and discussed areas of mutual cooperation and enhancing trade and investment between the two countries, the embassy of Maldives wrote on X.
Saudi adventurer sets out to cross Empty Quarter on foot
- Al-Shaibani will walk the full length of the desert with support from a logistics team
JEDDAH: A Saudi adventurer is tracing a historical journey through the Rub Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert in the world.
Badr Al-Shaibani will begin the journey on Sunday, crossing the 650,000 square km desert from south to northeast, entirely on foot.
Al-Shaibani will walk 600 kilometers across the desert with support from a logistics team.
He wants his journey to spotlight the ecological significance of the Empty Quarter, while documenting its natural and cultural landmarks.
Beyond the expedition itself, Al-Shaibani hopes to inspire a generation of Saudi youth to take on challenges, and discover their untapped potential by stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing new experiences.
Speaking to Arab News on the eve of his latest adventure, Al-Shaibani said: “It is the beginning of a new chapter of my adventures. I found myself drawn to one of the most beautiful challenges in my beloved country, which is crossing the Empty Quarter.”
Setting off from the Umm Hadid mining site, which is located in the Afif region, Al-Shaibani expects the journey to take around 18 days. He said that he felt confident about taking on the challenge.
“I am very excited about this because I have done so many adventures around the world, but this one is a special one because it is in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Al-Shaibani’s trek through majestic sand dunes and captivating natural sites will showcase the vast potential of the Kingdom’s deserts as a global tourist attraction.
It also reinforces the role of desert tourism in promoting environmental consciousness, revitalizing the cultural legacy of desert regions, and aligns with Vision 2030’s commitment to sustainable, culturally enriched tourism that draws enthusiasts from around the globe.
Al-Shaibani has previously undertaken adventures that combine physical endurance with nature exploration.
His achievements include an expedition to the South Pole, a documentary journey tracing the Prophet’s migration route, and completion of the Seven Summits challenge.
Saudi Arabia praised by UNESCO for achievements in artificial intelligence
- Report, part of UNESCO’s initiative to measure AI readiness through its Readiness Assessment Methodology, commended the Kingdom’s achievements as “global benchmark”
RIYADH: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization issued a report on Saturday that highlighted Saudi Arabia’s progress in the field of artificial intelligence, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The report, part of UNESCO’s initiative to measure AI readiness through its Readiness Assessment Methodology, commended the Kingdom’s achievements as “a global benchmark for the ethical and innovative adoption of advanced technologies,” according to the SPA.
The UNESCO report evaluated Saudi Arabia’s AI readiness in six key areas: national governance; legislation and regulations; societal and cultural; research and education; economic impact; and technical infrastructure. It concluded that the Kingdom had the capacity to adopt AI ethically and responsibly while achieving sustainable outcomes.
The report highlighted the establishment of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority in 2019 and the launch of the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence in 2020 as key steps in Saudi Arabia’s AI journey, and praised the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering a robust regulatory environment, promoting innovation while managing risks, enhancing education and workforce capabilities, and empowering women in AI-related fields, the SPA added.
UNESCO’s assistant director-general for social and human sciences, Gabriela Ramos, acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s efforts to lay strong foundations for AI governance and expressed confidence in the Kingdom’s ability to achieve sustainable, equitable outcomes through the technology.
The Kingdom ranked first globally in the Government Strategy for Artificial Intelligence category of the Global Artificial Intelligence Index 2024, second globally in public awareness of AI per the Artificial Intelligence Index 2023, and first regionally in overall AI performance.
Infrastructure development has been another area of strength. The Kingdom increased the capacity of its data centers to 204 megawatts in 2023, and launched the cutting-edge supercomputer Shaheen 3, and advanced digital communication through platforms including the Saudi Private Integration Network Exchange.
The report also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s strides in innovation and scientific research — noting that AI-related research publications more than doubled from 4,100 to 10,500 between 2019 and 2023 — as well as the establishment of institutions including the SDAIA-KAUST AI Center.
