Saudi Airlines Medical Services is the first government facility to be privatized under the umbrella of the Kingdom''s Vision 2030

In partnership with Fakih Medical Group and in cooperation with the National Center for Privatization

On Thursday 17 Rabi` Awal 1441 AH, corresponding to November 14, 2019 AD, a strategic partnership agreement was signed between the General Organization of Saudi Arabian Airlines and the Fakih Medical Group, according to which the first government health facility, represented by the Saudi Medical Services Strategic Unit, "Medical", will be allocated within the framework of the privatization project The units and companies of the corporation, as Saudi Airlines Catering and Saudi Airlines have been allocated for ground services so far, while important stages have been completed in the way of allocating Saudi Airlines Cargo and Saudi Airlines for private aviation.

The partnership and privatization agreement was signed this morning at the Saudi Airlines headquarters in Jeddah under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for Privatization in the Transport Sector, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and in the presence of His Excellency the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Airlines General Organization, Dr. Ghassan bin Abdulrahman Al-Shibl, and the CEO of the National Center for Privatization, Rayan Bin Muhammad Naqadi and the in-charge General Manager of Saudi Airlines, Sami bin Ali Sindi.

The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the Noble Qur’an. After that, the advanced medical capabilities of Medicall were presented through a video that was prepared for the occasion, then the CEO of the Strategic Medical Services Unit, Dr. Muhammad bin Hashem Bafakih delivered a speech welcoming the Excellencies and Excellencies the attendees at the outset. In partnership and integration between many state ministries and institutions, to accomplish this strategic project, with the importance it represents as the first state-owned health facility to be privatized.

Bafakih affirmed in his speech that the privatization process of "Medical" comes in the context of the comprehensive privatization project for the Saudi Airlines Group, which aims to upgrade the services provided by transforming the sectors of the corporation into independent companies that manage their operations and develop their services, noting that the strategic unit for medical services in Saudi Airlines is the largest center. A specialist in aviation medicine services in the Kingdom and approved by the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the US Federal Aviation Administration to provide aviation medicine services to more than 15,000 pilots, hosts and aircrew, in addition to providing health care services and medical services to more than 140,000 beneficiaries of the corporation’s employees and its group of companies, He added:

"The allocation of the strategic unit for medical services will result, God willing, providing health care services in accordance with the highest international standards for the beneficiaries, both the employees of the corporation group and their families, in addition to the general population who wish to benefit from advanced medical services, especially after this agreement, partnership and integration with one of the most prominent health facilities in the Kingdom."

After that, a video was reviewed containing comprehensive information about Fakih Medical Group and Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, its advanced capabilities, and the health services it provides.

This was followed by the blessing of God, the signing of the partnership agreement between Saudi Airlines, represented by the General Manager in charge, Sami bin Ali Sindi, and the Fakih Medical Group, and represented by the CEO of the group, Dr. Mazen Suleiman Fakih, so that the privatization process will be completed after the completion of the final procedures followed in this regard.

His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for Privatization in the Transport Sector, Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser congratulated Saudi Airlines and Fakih Medical Group for their strategic partnership to provide the best levels of health care to the employees of the corporation, their families and the general beneficiaries, stressing that this partnership and its fruit represented in the allocation of medical services in Saudi lines contributes to achieving the goals of the Kingdom''s vision 2030, which aims, through one of its main pillars, to a prosperous and sustainable economy by partnering with the private sector in the comprehensive development process and raising the quality of government services provided to citizens, residents and visitors.

Al-Jasser said

Today we are pleased with the completion of this strategic project within the framework of the partnership between the government and the private sectors to upgrade services and support comprehensive development programs towards a more robust, diversified and sustainable national economy. On this occasion, I would like to thank colleagues in the Privatization Program Committee, especially the Minister of Finance, Mr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, as well as The National Center for Privatization, and to my dear colleagues in Saudi Airlines, whether the Privatization Team or the Medical Services Department, to integrate their efforts to accomplish this strategic project, which will be an inspiring example of other relentless efforts to complete more comprehensive development projects and programs in this prosperous era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince, may God preserve them "

For his part, the CEO of the National Center for Privatization, Rayan bin Muhammad Naqadi, said that this initiative of allocating the strategic unit for medical services to Saudi lines is the first privatization process since the launch of the Kingdom''s Vision 2030 by selling government assets, stressing that this partnership will raise the operational efficiency and quality of services. The government provides the opportunity for the private sector to participate in a greater role in the development and the national economy by investing in the sectors targeted for privatization, indicating that the process of selling a share of the medical services strategic unit will contribute to achieving the main objectives of the privatization program, including liberating the state’s assets before the private sector and raising the private sector’s participation. In the national economy, from 40% to 65%, in line with the goals of the Kingdom''s Vision 2030.