Saudi Arabian healthcare budget poised to increase from USD 27.4 billion in 2013 to USD 47.7 billion by 2017

Riyadh – October 09, 2013: The healthcare and medical equipments industries in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are on track for robust growth in the next few years, especially as countries in the region have announced massive plans to build hospitals and advanced medical centers, in addition to expanding their current facilities.

Specifically, Saudi Arabia announced a massive plan to increase the number of hospitals around the Kingdom, and incorporate a big healthcare digitization plan to help exchange patient information across the country with the target of providing better healthcare services to patients wherever they are located and whenever they need it. Saudi Arabian healthcare budget for 2013 reached USD 27.4 billion and is expected to achieve remarkable growth in the coming years to reach USD 47.7 billion by 2017.

Agfa HealthCare Solutions recently hosted a gala dinner for top-tier healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia at the Belgium Embassy in Riyadh in the presence of the Belgian Ambassador H.E. Marc Vinck and Christian Reinaudo, CEO and President of Agfa Gevaert Group, the Belgium-headquartered parent company of Agfa HealthCare Solutions, in addition to a group of dignitaries. Agfa revealed that Christian Reinaudo is currently on a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote digitization across KSA, even as Agfa continues to build on its excellent track record for reliability, innovation, flexibility, and world-class customer service. Agfa HealthCare is considered the leader in implementing similar solutions in USA, Canada and Europe. Christian Reinaudo and the Belgian Ambassador in Saudi Arabia have recently concluded a series of business development meetings with the Ministry of Health and key market players to further promote the company's solutions and development plans for the local market.

Speaking at the press conference, Ziyad Neil bin Issa, General Manager of Agfa HealthCare Solutions in the Middle East, revealed that the medical equipments market is experiencing tremendous growth driven by several factors such as population growth, urbanization, increase in government healthcare investments, initiatives and strategies, and the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer.

Furthermore, Mustafa Hamdy, General Manager of Agfa HealthCare in Saudi Arabia, said: “Agfa HealthCare has been actively contributing to the development of the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia, which is regarded as the largest market in the region. After it recently established a new office in the Kingdom, the company is now reaching a wider segment of clients to provide them with its latest medical imaging services and solutions.”