The Saudi Council of Ministers approve the establishment of a new National Institute of Health

SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Council of Ministers, the cabinet of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has approved the establishment of the Saudi National Institute of Health (SNIH).

Additionally, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the establishment of the Saudi Patient Safety Center, the National Public Health Laboratory, and the National Health Emergency Operations Center.

Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet’s decision to form SNIH is a major step forward in concreted efforts to facilitate medical research and clinical trials at a national level.

In an official government notice, Minister of Health Fahad Aljalajel said: “The main objective of the Saudi National Institute of Health is to oversee and support all translational research and clinical trials.”

The Saudi National Institute of Health is expected to gain added value from research by transforming the results into health and economic benefits to raise the quality of life of people living in the region.

In line with the strategic goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Programme, SNIH will serve as a central gathering place for researchers and community partners to aid in the prevention of health risks and emergencies.

The Saudi National Institute of Health will also facilitate research, development, and innovation activities required to improve health policies and strategies.

Minister of Health Fahad Aljalajel pointed out that SNIH will contribute to raising national income by developing locally manufactured products for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Saudi National Institute of Health will also complement the activities of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers aimed at developing locally-made innovative products.

It will not only work closely with pharmaceutical manufacturers but also with vital national medical and technical apparatuses.

Building on national health priorities, the Saudi National Institute of Health will be translating cognitive outputs into diagnostic, prevention, and treatment products.

This initiative aligns with the aspirations expressed by the crown prince concerning research, development, and innovation.

SNIH will support ongoing endeavors to bridge the gap between basic science outputs and their applications in clinical practices, reduce disease incidence and the cost of healthcare, as well as supporting national health security.

By making the SNIH operational in the coming months, the Saudi Council of Ministers hopes to reduce overall healthcare costs by attracting global investors and increasing the return on research funding.

Underscoring the need for setting up such an institute, Aljalajel stated: “The Cabinet’s decision to establish the SNIH has been made to support health sector researchers and creative competencies in translational research and clinical trials to improve the health sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Following the Saudi Cabinet’s approval of the establishment of the SNIH, Saudi Health Minister Aljalajel thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support for the health sector in the Kingdom.

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