Study of more than 10,000 people identifies a rare group with controlled HIV in the Democratic Republic of Congo, suggesting additional research could uncover links between natural virus suppression and future treatments  Discovery is a result of Abbott’s continued virus hunting efforts, which also uncovered a new strain of HIV in 2019  Abbott’s decades of work in global viral surveillance has advanced the understanding of HIV and allowed the company to quickly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with its diagnostic tests      March 04, 2021:   Abbott announced today that a team of scientists has found an unusually high number of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who test positive for HIV antibodies, but have low to non-detectable viral load counts – ......read more

The MoU will foster collaboration opportunities in the shape of training programs, the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and the advancement of medical academia and clinical research. February 10, 2021:   Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, (SEHA), the largest healthcare network in the UAE, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH-D), Dammam, KSA. Under the patronage of Dr Abdulaziz Al Ghamdi, Chief Executive Officer of the First Health Cluster in Eastern Region, KSA; SEHA’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gareth Goodier, and the Chief Executive Officer of King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam, Mr. Omar Sharif, remotely executed the signature of the MoU between both parties on January 21, 2021. Both parties joined the collaboration meeting virtually by ......read more

• Public-private partnership aims to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system in line with the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030’ healthcare goals • AI Knowledge Hub and AI Lab to develop local talent through knowledge exchange and training  • Philips’ best-in-class AI-enabled healthcare solutions will improve performance and productivity, and help deliver better healthcare to Saudi Arabia’s citizens   Riyadh, KSA —  The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) today announced it has partnered with Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, to further support Saudi Arabia’s goal of becoming a leader in driving Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The Memorandum of Understanding between ......read more

December 21, 2020:   UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced the successful delivery of the first batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia, to support vaccinations of first citizens and expatriates. Saudi Arabia is the first Arab country to roll out the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, marking a breakthrough milestone in the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Rachid Fergati, UPS Managing director for Middle East and Indian subcontinent said: “UPS has proudly delivered the first batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Saudi Arabia, to support vaccinations of first citizens and expatriates in the country.  Saudi Arabia is the first country in the Middle East that we are serving and we are in position to continue delivering what matters to help stamp out the pandemic in the ......read more

• P&G and its brands will make their next wave of donations for COVID-19 relief including health, hygiene and cleaning products, PPE and financial support worth tens of millions of dollars as the first “acts of good” for 2021. • Lead with Love campaign unites P&G’s longstanding and ongoing Citizenship efforts of Community Impact, Equality & Inclusion, and Environmental Sustainability. • Unveiled through a powerful new creative film, “Emotions,” P&G invites everyone to make 2021 the year we all come together to do more and do better.   December 19, 2020:   Today, Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) is announcing a commitment to 2,021 acts of good for 2021, starting with its next major wave of contributions of health, hygiene and cleaning products, personal ......read more

Saudi Arabia’s leading medical research facility turns to high performance computing solutions provided by Oracle’s second-generation cloud region in Jeddah Riyadh, 12 November 2020: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), one of the leading biomedical and clinical research institutions has chosen Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to provide high performance computing (HPC) to power its complex research into a potential treatment for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. “At KAIMRC, one of our strategic goals is to conduct advanced medical research focusing on complex health problems, and in line with this, we started analyzing the protein structures of SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020. Understanding the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 required analysis of protein strands, and by ......read more

13, October 2020:  The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is pleased to announce that The International Medical Center has earned 2020 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition as a certified level 9, the only one in the MENA region and the first one in Saudi.  The CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program conducts an annual survey to assess how effectively healthcare organizations apply core and advanced technologies into their clinical and business programs to improve health and care in their communities. “Levels 9 and 10 represents healthcare technology leaders that often leverage these technologies in innovative ways and have encouraged deep adoption across their entire organization," according to CHIME. More than 30,000 facilities in 14 countries were represented in the ......read more

 High net worth individuals, families, family offices, and foundations plan to increase their allocation to impact investing from 20 per cent of their portfolios in 2019 to 35 per cent by 2025.  A quarter (27 per cent) of all investors expect to move to more than 50 per cent invested for impact within five years.  Nine-in-10 (87 per cent) investors say climate change influences their investment choices, while over half (52 per cent) view climate change as the greatest threat to the world.  Seven-in-10 (69 per cent) say COVID-19 has affected their views of investing and the economy, while 66 per cent say that it is likely to broaden their risk assessment to include more environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors.   October 12, 2020:  A new research report launched by Campden Wealth, ......read more

As Saudi residents spend more time indoors, do we really know what’s lurking in our homes?      12 October 2020, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The WHO estimates that we spend up to 90% of our time indoors .  Dust mites and their faeces are the most relevant inducers of allergic diseases worldwide . But how much do we really know about these microscopic bedfellows?   WHAT ARE DUST MITES? House dust mites are microscopic arachnids that can be found in homes all around the world. Their average lifecycle is 65-100 days and during that time they will produce approximately 2,000 faecal pellets and secrete even more proteins through their saliva – both of which can trigger allergies and impact your wellbeing .  In fact, dust mite allergens are the most relevant inducers of allergic ......read more

New report by WTTC and Oliver Wyman provides recommendations on how we can ensure a more seamless recovery of the sector Consumers are paying more attention to 'sustainability' of brands Destinations need to adopt new protocols for health and hygiene measures September 27, 2020:  The World Travel & Tourism Council [WTTC], today unveils a new report that explores the implications of the trends for each of four key Travel & Tourism stakeholders: travellers, businesses, workforce, and communities. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, worked closely with Oliver Wyman, a global management consulting firm, along with number of WTTC’s Members from key areas of the Travel & Tourism sector, to bring together this important body of work. The report emphasises the ......read more

Oxford Business Group and Najm Insurance Services launch latest research tool    Riyadh, 9 September 2020: The impact of Covid-19 on the insurance sector in Saudi Arabia and the efforts of sector players to support the national response to the challenges of the pandemic  are explored in a new Covid-19 Response Report (CRR) by Oxford Business Group (OBG), produced with Najm Insurance Services.   The CRR provides an in-depth analysis of Saudi Arabia’s response to the coronavirus in an easy-to-navigate and accessible format, focusing on key data and infographics relating to the country’s socio-economic landscape.   The report examines the Kingdom’s robust macroeconomic position before the crisis, looking at how the combination of low public debt, a strong credit rating and high FX ......read more

Oxford Business Group and Saudi Payments launch new economic analysis    17 August, 2020 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:   A new Covid-19 Response Report (CRR) issued by Oxford Business Group, (OBG) in partnership with Saudi payments, revealed the success of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in benefiting from e-commerce, digital transactions and dealing with the challenges imposed by the Coronavirus, which contributed in supporting the recovery of the national economy, despite the quarantine policies and commercial lockdown during the last period. The CRR provides an in-depth analysis at the Saudi Arabia’s response to the challenges imposed by this pandemic, as it highlights on solid infrastructure of the e-commerce and digital payments sectors in the Kingdom, which has facilitated the transition towards ......read more

Global Business Group Lays Out Plan for Addressing Resurgence from Pandemic and Issues Call to Action for Collaboration      July , 2020, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia --- B20 Saudi Arabia, the official voice of business to the G20, today announced a six-point plan designed to combat the current global pandemic and lay a foundation to address future resurgences of the disease, including a potential “second wave” of the virus in the coming months. The warning comes in concert with the launch of a new special report by B20, which was developed in collaboration with business leaders and leading multilateral organizations around the world.    B20 wanted to get consensus from the business world on how governments can better support the private sector during the crisis, protect the economy and prepare ......read more

Saudi-based pharmacy chain automates its treasury and payment systems, boosting efficiency and visibility as it plans regional expansion       July 2, 2020 – Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, today announced that Nahdi Medical Company, a Saudi Arabia-based pharmacy retail chain, has digitally transformed its financial management, payment systems, and financial planning with Infor Treasury Management.     This solution allows vast improvements to Nahdi Medical’s financial management and planning capabilities, placing the company in a strong position to expand its operations in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambition to increase the private sector participation in the provision of healthcare services. Saudi Arabia is the Gulf Cooperation ......read more

July 02, 2020:  As lockdown restrictions are gradually eased, and people adjust to the new normal, many are asking what the new normal will be for public transport and mobility. Safety and hygiene are at the root of people’s concerns when it comes to travel and mobility in a COVID-19 world, with commuters seeking reassurance that their health and wellbeing will be a top priority.   Alstom, a global leader in rail transport and sustainable mobility, has been working to alleviate such concerns, making the most of the lockdown period by investing an extra €1 million into speeding up the development of health and wellbeing mobility initiatives.     A dedicated team of experts at Alstom has brought together their key expertise and resources across all technical domains, while coordinating with ......read more

By Omer Saleem, director and deputy CEO of Proven SA June 28, 2020:   The past months have shifted the business world dramatically, and central hubs of business have been leading the world through the strategic actions necessary to overcome these extreme situations. Remote work adoption is at an all-time high as a matter of necessity and with new guidelines, while business service providers began re-tailoring their services to fit changing business models. Saudi Arabia has led the response for COVID-19 emergency, and the Kingdom continues to update its policies in response to the ramifications of the pandemic as well as other global events. Recent news revealed updates on WPS (Wage Protection System) and customs fees, and more recently the Saudi Arabia GAZT (General Authority of Zakat and Tax) issued updated transfer ......read more

• Expectations for the pace of economic recovery must be realistic, but many GCC countries can be optimistic for 2021.   By Edris Alrafi, Head of Middle East & Africa for Aberdeen Standard investments (ASI)   June 28, 2020: The aftermath of the economic and market turbulence due to Covid-19 has redefined the landscape for GCC member states. A relatively bleak growth outlook requires a shift in expectations – with a recovery unlikely until 2021.   However, some GCC countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are well placed to ensure this recovery becomes a reality as their strong Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) will pay a vital role in helping the economies get back on their feet.   As with other regions globally, the growth outlook for the Middle East has suffered from ......read more

• Q1 revenues of SAR 1,343.3 million grew 9.4% and decreased by 4.4% on the previous quarter • Group’s total capacity stands at 1,913 beds and 1,371 clinics as at 31 March 2020, through which an integrated system of general and specialized services is provided  • Ramp-up of electronic services and remote medical consultations; delivery of medicines and other medical services to serve customers at home     29 April 2020:  Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group (“HMG”, or the “Group”), Saudi Arabia’s largest private medical services provider, has announced its financial results for the 3-month period ended 31 March 2020.    First quarter revenue increased by 9.4% year-on-year to SAR 1,343.3 million, driven by revenue growth across the ......read more

April 25, 2020:    The Saudi Dental Society has conducted the first and largest virtual  Dental Conference around the world, with senior lecturers from the most prestigious universities in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia were contacted to give continuous lectures for 11 hours a day for three days event. This conference came with the aim of motivating the members and colleagues in the dental society considering the social divergence the world is witnessing today. This conference witnessed the registration of more than 16 thousand dentists from around the world, and more than one hundred thousand views through social media. Dr. Thamer Theeb, a dental consultant at the British Academy (BAIRD), comments: “This conference is the largest virtual gathering of dentists ......read more

In addition to this, most residents think the pandemic will incur a long lasting damage to their respective economies   Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 16, 2020:   The latest data from YouGov’s survey run between 8th- 15th April shows an increasing number of people in the UAE and KSA are concerned about the loss of job or salary due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. The proportion of respondents who said this has increased from 44% to 51% this week. Notably, UAE residents are much more worried about this outcome as compared to people in KSA (64% vs 38%). In both the countries, concern over job loss was seen more among expats than locals. In the UAE, Western (74%) and Asian expats (68%) appeared more nervous about this scenario as compared to the Emiratis (46%). Similarly, in KSA, expats are more anxious ......read more

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, April 11, 2020:   Keeping customer centricity as our primary objective, Lenovo is leveraging the full strength of its global business operations to maintain services support and minimize any potential impact on customers worldwide during this challenging time of COVID-19 pandemic.  To better support our customers, Lenovo is offering a free global warranty extension for up to 75 days through May 31, 2020. The extension is applicable to all Lenovo PCs, tablets, smart home devices, consumer AR and VR devices, monitors and accessories, with warranties that are coming to an end between March 15 and April 30, 2020. Through the breadth of consumer technology and services, Lenovo is here to support customers in continuing to stay connected, productive and entertained at home.  

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Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – February 2, 2020:   King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) is one of four recipients of this year’s Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Davies Award of Excellence and is in the top 100 list of organizations worldwide to achieve this award. KFSH&RC is the first HIMSS Davies Award winner in the Kingdom and the first outside of North America to achieve HIMSS Stage 7 Ambulatory and HIMSS Stage 6 Analytics Maturity.   The HIMSS Davies Award recognizes outstanding achievements of organizations that have utilized health IT to substantially improve patient outcomes through sharing evidence-driven best practices on implementation strategies, workflow design, change management and patient ......read more

The meeting aims to advance bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in health field     January 28, 2020:   H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has discussed with Dr.Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Health of Saudi Arabia and Kuwaiti Health Minister Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, ways of boosting cooperation and coordination in the health sector.    The meeting was held today on the sidelines of the 45th Arab Health being held at Dubai World Trade Centre from January 27 to 30.     H.E. Dr. Mohammad Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry, and a number of officials from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait attended the meeting, which touched on methods of improving health services and how to keep abreast of ......read more

The three-day congress sheds light on the latest technological innovations, investment opportunities and developments in pharmaceutical manufacturing    Saudi - December 04, 2019: The 5th MENA Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Congress and Exhibition kicked off today at the Voco Hotel, Riyadh. The three-day congress with the theme – ‘Improving pharmaceutical manufacturing through innovative strategies and knowledge’ – will discuss key innovations, challenges and opportunities in Saudi Arabia, and the MENA region in general.     Dr. Moureq Alotaibi, President of Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, and Dr. Faisal BinDail, Chairman of National Committee for Pharmaceutical Industries and the Scientific Committee Chairman of the Congress opened the congress which brought together 360 delegates ......read more

October 22, 2019, Dammam, KSA:    Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, participated in the inaugural conference for Saudi Workplace, Safety, Health, Environment and Wellbeing with experts providing insights on Road Traffic Safety Management Systems and global industry standards to an audience of health and safety professionals and industry leaders.   The four-day event, held under the auspices of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), took place in Damman, Saudi Arabia. It is the first event of its kind in Saudi Arabia and supports the commitments set by Saudi Vision 2030. Deemah Saleh Alswat, Training Supervisor in Business Assurance at Intertek Gulf region, presented on road traffic safety management, shedding light on how organisations can play a key ......read more