Saudi MOH, AstraZeneca, and UNGC KSA Announce Ground-Breaking Partnership for Health Care Sustainability in the Kingdom.

The Saudi Ministry of Health has signed a joint partnership agreement with AstraZeneca and the United Nations Global Compact Network (UNGC) in Saudi Arabia focusing on the pioneering healthcare sustainability in the Kingdom.

The Ministry clarified that this collaboration aims for a monumental shift towards reducing carbon emissions in the healthcare industry, aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

The Ministry of Health also indicated that AstraZeneca is focusing on many important areas, this includes utilising digital technologies to optimise access to healthcare, with an emphasis on ensuring its sustainable and equitable reach to society members; aiming to enhance the quality of life by stressing the importance of early disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment. The agreement plan calls for a rigorous review and update of disease management guidelines with the aim of incorporating innovative measures to minimise the healthcare carbon footprint.

Furthermore, the Ministry pointed out that this collaboration aims to reinforce sustainability and resilience within the healthcare sector and encourages collaborative efforts to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare systems through knowledge sharing and developing best practices in fruitful workshops. This partnership represents a critical juncture towards a more sustainable healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the United Nations' SDGs. Together, they are leading the change towards an eco-friendlier healthcare system.

AstraZeneca in the GCC and Pakistan region has confirmed that it will work to optimise access to healthcare through the use of digital technologies and enhance the quality of life through early diagnosis, screening, and patient awareness. Additionally, AstraZeneca is committed to supporting initiatives to decarbonise healthcare systems. These innovative partnerships, both in the Kingdom and around the world, highlight the science-driven actions the company is taking to tackle climate change, achieve health equity, and build resilience in healthcare systems, all to realise a healthier life for people, society, and the planet.

The UNGC in Saudi Arabia added that this partnership represents an important achievement in the sustainability agenda in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The collective efforts of the Ministry of Health, AstraZeneca, and the Saudi Network of UNGC lead the way in transitioning the healthcare sector towards a more sustainable future. We understand the challenges and the difficulty of the task, but together, we are determined to gradually change, enforce positive impact, and reach our decarbonization goal. 

In the spirit of this collaboration, a task force will be formed to lead this initiative over the next five years. This task force will focus on aligning research, training, technology, and innovation while developing key performance indicators to measure progress and identify areas for improvement. The parties have affirmed that this partnership is based on a shared vision and commitment to making a positive and enduring impact on the environment, society, and the future of healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It's worth noting that AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company, focused on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and Biopharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.