• The collaboration aims to enhance awareness, education, and access to mental health services across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to improve healthcare services and well-being for citizens.
• Saudi Health Council and Boehringer Ingelheim will work together to assess the existing policy to ensure their effectiveness and alignment with current mental health needs and best practices.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 06 January 2025: Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Health Council to reassess mental health policies and enhance related services in the Kingdom. The MoU was signed on 12 December 2024 by Dr. Mushabab Al Assiri, Acting Director General of Health Economics and Policies at Saudi Health Council, and Abdallah Hamed, General Manager & Head of Human Pharma Saudi Arabia, Gulf and East Africa (SAGEA) at Boehringer Ingelheim, during an official ceremony.

The strategic partnership serves as a platform for the exchange of global expertise to foster innovation and bring the latest research and mental health treatment models to the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s mental health strategy. The agreement is a testament to the commitment of the Saudi Health Council and the Saudi government to prioritize mental health in line with Vision 2030, which aims to improve healthcare services for the citizens and residents of the Kingdom.[i]

Abdallah Hamed, General Manager & Head of Human Pharma SAGEA at Boehringer Ingelheim, added, “At Boehringer Ingelheim, we continuously look to strengthen our collaborative efforts with the public sector to create science-based solutions that support patients, their families and healthcare systems in the communities we serve. Our most recent collaboration with the Saudi Health Council underscores our commitment to advancing mental health awareness, education, and treatment options in Saudi Arabia. We are proud to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and to contribute to the development of a more robust mental health ecosystem that addresses the needs of the community.”

The partnership highlights the importance of collaboration between public and private sector entities to achieve common goals and advance national agendas, including community health and wellbeing.

The long-term goals of the partnership include developing robust policies that address the population’s needs regarding mental health disorders. These policies aim to improve public knowledge, reduce the stigma around mental health conditions, and focus on evidence-based practices to enhance access to care and clinical outcomes for patients by collaborating and aligning with various stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocacy groups.

About Saudi Health Council

The Saudi Health Council, established to enhance the coordination and quality of healthcare services in the Kingdom, focuses on developing regulations to reduce disease burden, disability, and death rates. By collaborating with various health sectors, the Council aims to provide high-quality, accessible health services, prevent resource duplication, and promote public health through innovative programs and initiatives. The Council also oversees specialized centers for cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, and organ transplantation, ensuring that these critical areas receive focused attention and resources.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that improve the lives of humans and animals. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. Around 52,000 employees serve more than 130 markets in the three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

[i] Health Sector Transformation Program.Vision 2030. Retrieved from: https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/explore/programs/health-sector-transformation-program.