Saudi Arabia aims to improve national health care with patent and drug approval changes

Saudi Arabia is taking back control of its health care industry, states a new report by the business intelligence firm GlobalData, which shows that the Kingdom is attempting to seize back power over this industry which has historically been controlled by expatriates. The government is attempting to change patent regulation, drug approvals and employment law, in order to promote local pharmaceutical and medical devices companies.

Saudi Arabia is largely dependent on an expatriate workforce, hiring just only one national for every 13 foreign workers. However, the government has now initiated employment-generation programs, targeting unemployed Saudi youths in an effort to promote the “indigenization” of the workforce. In January 2012, the government announced plans to create three million new jobs for unemployed Saudis by the end of 2015, with an additional three million jobs by 2030. The government also mandates that companies fill nearly 30% of their staff with Saudis. These initiatives aim to promote “saudization” in all industries including medical technology and pharmaceuticals.

Working to ease cumbersome regulatory process