Saudi Arabia’s health sector, which is expected to drive in a demand for 70,000 more hospital bed by next year, is worth SR108.59 billion ($28.99 billion) currently, according to a report.

Looking to address this, the kingdom is currently witnessing increased construction activity for medical facilities and infrastructure, including the current construction of five new medical cities and 132 hospitals.

Aimed at generating strong interest from leading local, regional and global health care companies, the Saudi Health Exhibition and Conferences 2015, the latest edition of the largest health care event in Saudi Arabia, will run from May 18 to May 20 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The show is being organised under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Health and in cooperation with Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions.

“Amid population growth and lifestyle changes in Saudi Arabia, the demand for essential healthcare services is on the rise. The kingdom is seeking to increase physical healthcare capacity across its entire geography, including border areas and remote regions while also looking to provide qualified manpower for these new facilities,” according to an REC official.

“Accordingly, as a key player in the Saudi market, we are contributing to the development of the sector by means of our exhibitions, which open the opportunities for health care industry players to interact and network for the better improvements of the sector. The Saudi Health Exhibition and Conferences 2015 show is aimed towards enabling regional and global health care representatives, dealers, suppliers, and service providers to discuss growth initiatives.”     

Besides rolling out healthcare services across Saudi Arabia’s regions and improving the quality of care, the kingdom’s ten-year strategic healthcare plan also includes goals to bolster the workforce, sustain the Ministry of Health’s supervisory role, diversify healthcare funding and encourage the private sector to deliver healthcare services. - TradeArabia News Service