Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, who is also the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Weqaya), appreciated the decision of the Council of Ministers to convert Weqaya to the Public Health Authority (PAH).

Dr. Al-Rabiah said that PAH will work to enhance the Kingdom’s success in achieving the goals of Vision 2030 that are consistent with a wide range of the authority’s goals.

“The authority works with other health sectors and various Vision programs to realize the Saudi society’s welfare as well as to ensure the state’s attention to public health, apart from promoting the health principle of prevention better than cure. This is through enacting legislation, and framing public policies and programs that cover all aspects of the concept of public health that goes beyond the role of the health sector,” he said.

Dr. Al-Rabiah said that one of the most important works of the authority is to enhance the general readiness to respond to public health emergencies such as pandemics and epidemics, by coordinating efforts among the relevant authorities, and developing response plans to achieve recovery, with clearly distributing roles and responsibilities, in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

The minister stressed that this effort is important and essential to enhance the health security of the state and the local, regional and international community, taking into account the Kingdom’s religious, political, and economic importance in this regard.