Regional and international healthcare representatives, dealers, suppliers and service providers will discuss growth initiatives aimed at boosting Saudi Arabia’s health industry at a conference in Riyadh in May.

The third Saudi Health Exhibition and Conferences will run from May 18 to 20 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre and will be held under the support of the Saudi Ministry of Health and jointly organised by Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC) and Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions.

The Saudi Health exhibition will feature more than 8,000 sq m of space, and is expected to host more than 13,000 delegates and visitors. It will also include 11 country pavilions, 350 exhibitors, and 18 exhibiting countries.

Kamil Al Jawhari, exhibition manager at REC, said: “We are looking forward to this year’s edition of Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference, which is expected to drive in more growth for the kingdom’s healthcare sector. For the first time since 2011, a fiscal deficit is projected based on revenues of SR715 billion ($190.5 billion) and expenditures of SR860 billion.

“The education and healthcare sectors accounted for 43.8 per cent of the total government spending in 2014, demonstrating that they remain among the Kingdom’s main focus. We constantly seek to contribute to the government’s programs to enhance the healthcare sector by organizing exhibitions that are relevant to the industry’s advancement.”

The event comes amid the Ministry of Health’s substantial budget allocations over the past years for the sector’s improvement and development. The sector’s healthcare and social development segments received the largest allocations at 48 per cent increase year-on-year up to this year.

The demand for hospital beds in Saudi Arabia is also expected to rise to 70,000 by 2016. Five medical cities and 132 hospitals are currently under construction across the kingdom.  The Saudi Arabia healthcare market is worth SR108.59 billion.

Simon Page, managing director, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, said: “Saudi Arabia comprises of two-thirds of the GCC population, and is the largest spender on healthcare in the Gulf region. In line with the Saudi Ministry of Health, we continue to support and contribute to the development process in the Saudi healthcare sector, by providing organisations in the healthcare industry the opportunity to share the latest updates and advancements in the sector with their peers.. These discussions will result in positive developments seen to further boost the local healthcare industry.” - TradeArabia News Service