TheHEALTH November/December 2025 | Page 6

06 FOREIGN NEWS The HEALTH | November-December. 2025

Riyadh ' s health showcase

HEALTHCARE FUTURES: Global Health Exhibition 2025 showcased groundbreaking innovations and collaborations, setting the stage for the future of healthcare

THE Global Health Exhibition 2025, held from Oct 27-30 in Riyadh, wrapped up its eighth edition with a resounding success. The event showcased the critical themes of

global collaboration, investment, and innovation in healthcare, as evidenced by an impressive US $ 35.5 billion in deals signed and the participation of 607 distinguished speakers.
This year ' s exhibition saw a
remarkable 54 per cent increase in international attendees compared to the previous edition, underscoring Saudi Arabia ' s growing influence as a hub for healthcare advancement.
Under the theme " Invest in Health ", the exhibition received high praise from key officials.
Saudi Ministry of Health ' s Planning and Development Vice Minister Abdulaziz Hamad AlRamaih highlighted the event ' s status as the world ' s fastest-growing health gathering.
" This year ' s edition stood out for the exceptional quality of its participants and attendees," he said, emphasising the strong interest from global investors and healthcare leaders.
Throughout the event, significant partnerships were forged, particularly
in the realms of digital health and healthcare infrastructure. Among the landmark deals was an US $ 8.4 billion investment to enhance hospitals and healthcare facilities across the Kingdom.
Additionally, over US $ 3.24 billion was committed to venture capital and strategic funds, while more than US $ 625 million was dedicated to the life sciences sector.
The final day of the exhibition focused on the future of healthcare, featuring discussions on patientcentric innovation and the economics of care. In a session led by prominent global leaders, insights into valuebased care were shared, emphasising the need to shift to outcome-focused funding models.
In conjunction with these discussions, Forbes Middle East and Health Holding organised the Healthcare Innovation Circle, which brought together policymakers and investors to conceptualise integrated, tech-driven healthcare systems. Discussions on transforming patient experiences highlighted Saudi Arabia ' s pioneering initiatives in wellness and medical tourism, with a vision that marries cultural heritage with modern healthcare practices.

AI tackles AMR Navigating fertility barriers

IN a significant step towards combating antimicrobial resistance( AMR), GSK and the Fleming Initiative unveiled six groundbreaking research programmes, termed ' Grand Challenges ', on Nov 18, 2025.
This collaboration aims to leverage cutting-edge scientific expertise and advanced artificial intelligence( AI) technologies to mitigate the escalating AMR crisis.
The announcement followed the Oct 2025 WHO GLASS Report, which underscored a deteriorating global AMR landscape. The report noted that approximately one in six confirmed bacterial infections stemmed from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with projected AMR-related deaths expected to rise by 74.5 per cent from 4.71 million in 2021 to 8.22 million by 2050.
All six programmes, fully funded for three years and set to commence by early 2026, encompass critical themes such as: Enhancing the discovery of new antibiotics targeting Gramnegative bacterial infections Accelerating drug discovery for fungal infections. Investigating immune responses to drug-resistant bacteria to foster vaccine research. Developing AI models informed
AMR FIGHT: Scientists from GSK and the Fleming Initiative join forces to combat antimicrobial resistance using innovative AI technology
by disease surveillance and environmental data to predict the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens. Innovating clinical trials to optimise antibiotic prescription practices. Using international research and insights to guide public policy and engagement, thereby promoting preventative strategies and bolstering R & D efforts against AMR.
THE World Health Organisation( WHO) announced its first global guidelines to enhance safety, fairness, and affordability in fertility care. This initiative sought to address the pressing public health challenge of infertility, which affects one in six individuals of reproductive age at some point in their lives.
Despite rising global demand for infertility services, access to care remained critically limited. In numerous nations, individuals faced substantial out-of-pocket expenses for tests and treatments, resulting in severe financial burdens. The cost of a single round of in vitro fertilisation( IVF) can exceed double the average annual household income in some regions.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised the urgency of the situation: Infertility is one of the most overlooked public health challenges of our time and a major equity issue globally.
" Millions face this journey alone; priced out of care, pushed toward cheaper but unproven treatments, or forced to choose between their hopes of having children and their financial security."
He urged countries to adopt the new guidelines to foster access to affordable, respectful, and evidence-based care.
The comprehensive guideline includes 40 recommendations to
HOPE UNLOCKED: WHO ' s landmark guidelines aim to improve access to fertility care for individuals and couples worldwide
improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility. It advocated cost-effective solutions at every stage and called for integrating fertility care into national health strategies, services, and financing structures.- The HEALTH