Forum highlights private segment’s key role to achieve healthcare goals

The “Business Development and Investment in Health and Medical Industries - BDFEX 2019” forum recommended exploring and encouraging more national health industries, including the pharmaceutical industry, equipment and medical supplies, to provide the requirements of health facilities such hospitals, centres, clinics and pharmacies in the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The forum was held in Bahrain under the patronage of General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council for Health, for two days and in strategic partnership with Tamkeen.

Participants stressed that the pharmaceutical and medical industries are among the most promising industrial fields in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, especially with the agreement of unified companies for medicines and medical supplies in the GCC, plus the support they provide for exporting medicines to Gulf and international markets.

At the end of the forum, the participants recommended supporting the governmental efforts in achieving the pharmaceutical security through encouraging the launch of pharmaceutical industries and medical supplies that meet the needs of the local market in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, besides the reinforcement of economic growth in general.

The first Business Development Forum and Exhibition in the Health sector “BDFEX” was organised by the international consulting company of the Kingdom “PROACT” and the “United Gulf Industrial Alliances” Company of Saudi Arabia. A group of speakers and many local and foreign investors who are seeking investment opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry and the medical supplies sector in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia participated in the Forum.

The executive chairman of “PROACT” Dr Khalid Bomtaia expressed his satisfaction with the success of the works of the “BDFEX” Forum that was held for the first time in Bahrain. He also noted that the recommendations made by the participants in the forum over two days are in keeping with the goals of the Kingdom of Bahrain 2030 vision, especially in the direction of the orientation towards the knowledge economy and investing Bahrain’s human and scientific capabilities in developing the national economy and increasing the gross domestic product.

The forum also met the expectations of the Economic Development Council, which focused on five sectors for the development of the national economy, he pointed out. On his part, Executive Vice-President of the United Gulf, Akl Al Hulil, said that the “BDFEX” Forum succeeded in devoting its position as the first event of this kind that deals with the pharmaceutical and health industries topic in all its legislative and investment aspects.

He pointed out that the forum also witnessed the signing of many related agreements between companies, suppliers and Gulf, Arab and foreign investors, and confirmed the keenness of putting the recommendations of the meeting into application.