Some 10 members of top UK companies, including four based here in Saudi Arabia, have convened Monday over a special reception at the residence of the Consul General of Britain Mohammed Shokat. The visit is part of the British Life Science Mission to Saudi Arabia which already visited the Ministry of Health in Riyadh to discuss feasible and potential cooperation in the field of health infrastructure, including design, construction and operating services. Phil Dowrick, business specialist from UK Trade and Investment and the coordinator of the British trade delegation, told the Saudi Gazette that the visit to Saudi Arabia is the first fruit of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Health and the UK Department of Health in April 2011 which has laid the basis for such a relationship. He stressed that Britain is committed to maintaining the momentum the top companies have developed since the signing of the MoU. "The UK is home to some of the world's leading architectural, design, engineering and construction companies. Those companies are the global leaders in partnerships, delivering cutting-edge healthcare infrastructure and facilities that put the experience of patients, visitors and staff at their heart," he added. Dowrick, who was earlier with the head of the design and construction at the MOH in Riyadh, said the MOH project will build 180 new hospitals in the Kingdom, in addition to other 2,000 clinics. "UK is looking forward to enhancing the size of bilateral corporation with Saudi Arabia in the field of healthcare up to 5 billion pounds in the upcoming years. As Saudi Arabia embarks on its bold program of healthcare reform and development, new opportunities are emerging for close working partnerships between our healthcare institutions and industries. The mission, which brings leading UK companies at the forefront of intelligent design and construction, opens significant opportunities for these companies to build partnerships in Saudi Arabia," Dowrick noted. On the peculiar features of UK services in the healthcare services, Dowrick said that they introduce a very unique healthcare package including a smart design of smart health edifices and buildings with sustainable services, the construction services at the level of quality and the operating of such hospitals and health centers. "Growing and ageing populations increase chronic disease and greater demand for healthcare services all require new strategies and investment. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is already preparing for these future trends and have identified healthcare as the top priority for development and investment. The rapid evolution in medical technology and the increasing demand for specialist healthcare services have promoted the expansion of the primary healthcare services, hospitals and tertiary care facilities," Dowrick explained. __
