Britain offers cooperation in primary health care

The British health minister on Monday commended the expanding health services in the Kingdom and said his country was ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to develop its primary health care system. Simon Burns, who wrapped up a day's visit to Riyadh, was addressing reporters at the residence of British Ambassador Tom Phillips during a reception in his honor. The visiting British aide said the UK would like to be a partner with the Kingdom on project management in the primary health care system. The minister said his visit came at a time when both the UK and Saudi Arabia were embarking on extensive health care reforms and developments. He hoped that the talks he held with Saudi officials would develop meaningful partnerships through which knowledge and experience could be shared for mutual benefit. The minister’s program included meetings with the deputy health minister and senior ministry officials, the CEO of the National Guard Hospitals, and senior officials of the Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group. The official said that he was here to review progress under the UK-Saudi memorandum of understanding on health care cooperation and to prepare the grounds for a proposed UK health care industry mission and seminar in early February 2012. The memorandum of understanding, signed by Burns and Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah in April, was committed to exchanging information and consider medical staff training programs; to examine the opportunity for joint research and conferences; to share experience in the area of the pharmaceutical industry and medical equipment; and to share best practice in hospital design and management. Commenting on the agreement following the signing ceremony, Burns said, “Health is a global issue that transcends borders and boundaries. We are proud to have signed this memorandum of understanding between the UK and Saudi Arabia to share our expertise, best practice and experience in health care.” He said Saudi Arabia was currently modernizing its health care system. “We share a vision of a modern health care system that continually improves the quality of patient care.” He also announced that a delegation was being planned to visit the Kingdom early next year. It would comprise representatives from 24 companies, he added. The state minister also welcomed Saudis who go for medical treatment in the United Kingdom. “We provide first-class health care services for all ailments,” he said, pointing out that the National Health Service (NHS) was founded 63 years ago and provides a complete managed system of health care in people’s homes through to primary, secondary and tertiary care. “The NHS is internationally renowned and is at the forefront of health care delivery, research and training, while also being one of the most efficient health services in the world.” In England alone, the NHS employs 1.2 million people, making it the fourth-largest organization in the world. On average, the NHS deals with 1 million patients every 36 hours, equating to one patient every eight seconds. Each week 3,000 people have heart surgery and each GP sees 140 patients. Burns’ visit followed a successful visit to the Kingdom by senior British clinicians led by UK business ambassador for health care Lord Darzi in October 2011, which helped to further develop the UK-Saudi healthcare relationship. Encouraging prospects for institutional partnerships in key sectors including cancer diagnostics, diabetes, eye-care and nurse training were identified during this visit. At the heart of these are partnership offers currently under preparation involving Moorfields, Imperial College, King’s College Hospital and Royal Marsden in the UK.