Saudi health minister says new digital health link with Syria is ‘just the beginning’

Saudi Arabia’s launch of a new digital health link with Syria on Sunday marks “just the beginning” of deeper regional cooperation in medical services, according to the Minister of Health Fahad Abdulrahman al-Jalajil.

The project connects Syria’s Ministry of Health directly with Seha Virtual Hospital in Riyadh, the largest virtual hospital in the world.

“This initiative connects Syria to Saudi Arabia’s Seha Virtual Hospital, which delivers more than 51 million consultations annually using AI and telemedicine,” al-Jalajel told Al Arabiya English in an interview.

“For example, stroke treatment using AI at Seha Virtual now takes just 25 minutes, compared to the global average of 60 minutes.”

At the launch ceremony in Riyadh, al-Jalajel was joined by Syrian Health Minister Dr. Musab al-Ali, while Syria’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdulsalam Heikal participated virtually.

Officials said the link will allow Syrian doctors and patients to access Saudi expertise in real time, with round-the-clock availability of medical consultations, diagnoses, and specialized care. The system is also expected to speed up emergency responses and expand access to rare medical fields that are difficult to find locally.

During the launch event, the two governments also signed a memorandum of understanding.

“The MoU with the Syrian Ministry of Health builds on earlier rounds of cooperation and is designed to strengthen Syria’s healthcare system,” al-Jalajel told Al Arabiya English.

“It focuses on sharing Saudi Arabia’s expertise in digital health, AI-driven care, and crisis management, ensuring the system is more resilient, sustainable, and able to provide better quality services to patients.”

Looking ahead, the minister said Saudi Arabia sees the digital bridge as a foundation for long-term collaboration.

“We will continue to deepen cooperation by expanding digital health initiatives, building technical capacity, and exchanging expertise,” he said.

“The Kingdom remains committed to supporting healthcare resilience across the region, with Syria as a key partner in this vision.”