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Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh received Sudan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Dafallah Al-Hajj Ali Othman, in his office in Riyadh on Thursday.
Al-Asheikh wished the ambassador well in his duties and efforts to strengthen relations between the people of the two nations.
The two officials discussed issues of common interest during the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has made notable progress in the Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index, reinforcing its position among leading nations in global health indicators, according to the latest data released by the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
The Kingdom recorded a score of 83 points in the latest UHC update, marking a nine-point increase within two years and placing Saudi Arabia among countries classified as having high-level health service coverage.
The steady rise reflects sustained improvements over the past two decades and underscores the impact of the Kingdom’s Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030.
The UHC Service Coverage Index is one of the internationally recognized Sustainable Development Goal indicators and measures access to essential health services across key areas, including preventive care, treatment, and system capacity.
Progress in the index is closely linked to broader development outcomes such as improved quality of life, reduced disease burden, and enhanced social well-being.
Saudi Arabia’s advancement has been driven by a strategic focus on preventive healthcare, strengthened primary care services, expanded early screening programs, and increased health system readiness.
The transformation has also been supported by rapid digitalization, including platforms such as Sehhaty and the Seha Virtual Hospital, which have expanded access to care and improved service efficiency nationwide.
These reforms have translated into measurable public health gains. Life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rose from 74 years in 2016 to about 79.7 in 2025, bringing the Kingdom close to its Vision 2030 target of 80 years and highlighting the effectiveness of preventive and treatment programs.
Health Minister Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel said the progress reflected the tangible outcomes of Vision 2030 and sustained leadership support.
He said: “The improvements we see today in international health indicators demonstrate the real impact of the Kingdom’s health transformation, which prioritizes prevention, primary care empowerment, and digital health solutions. Raising life expectancy to 79.7 years is the result of an integrated effort focused on improving people’s health and quality of life.”
Saudi Arabia’s progress in the UHC index further strengthens its standing among G20 countries and underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to building a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable health system, with people at the center of national development.
