Saudi health sector achieves 137 international honors in 2026

Saudi Arabia’s health sector has made a significant mark on the global excellence map, achieving 137 international honors from the start of 2026 through November 11. These included 68 global and regional awards and medals, 49 international accreditations and memberships, and 20 international certificates. This record reflects the Kingdom’s advanced position in healthcare quality, innovation, and institutional excellence, underscoring its ability to compete and lead internationally. The achievements are a testament to the Health Sector Transformation Program, part of Saudi Vision 2030, which has built a modern health system that raises standards of quality and efficiency and boosts the Kingdom’s global competitiveness.

Among the global awards, the Ministry of Health received the Press Ganey Award for patient experience and healthcare facility performance, and won Best Health Sector Campaign for the creative “Tateeb bi-Ahliha” initiative under the “Healthy Cities” campaign at the GovMedia Awards 2026. The “Quality of Years” campaign also took gold in the communications and marketing category at the MUSE Creative Awards 26.

On the international stage, Saudi Arabia’s health sector collected 36 awards at the International Customer Experience Awards (ICXA 2026) in London, including 15 gold, 9 silver, and 12 bronze awards. Two Saudi health leaders also received individual gold awards for customer experience leadership, bringing the total to 38. Additionally, the sector earned four awards at the Gulf Customer Experience Awards.

In global innovation, the Saudi health sector stood out with 20 international recognitions, including 19 medals and special prizes at the 51st Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions 2026. The national pavilion featured the Ministry of Health, the National Institute for Health Research, the Council of Health Insurance, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, and the Health Holding Company and its clusters, showcasing 20 health inventions that demonstrated Saudi Arabia’s research, innovation, and advanced technological capabilities in healthcare.

Further achievements included the Health Holding Company winning the Sterling International Collaboration Award for institutional excellence, and the Council of Health Insurance taking gold at the MUSE Creative Awards. The Saudi Red Crescent Authority team also won the 2026 First Aid World Cup, highlighting the high readiness and professional excellence of Saudi health professionals internationally.

In international accreditations, the Ministry of Health strengthened its standing with the National Health Command and Control Center being designated a WHO Collaborating Center. The Public Health Authority (Weqaya) was also named a WHO Collaborating Center for promoting healthy lifestyles. The Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) and the Public Health Academy also received WHO collaborating center status for healthcare accreditation and workforce development, respectively.

International accreditations further included the Saudi Food and Drug Authority’s reference laboratory earning ISO/IEC 17025 certification, and the Global Innovation Institute accrediting the “Ibsar” innovation lab of the Council of Health Insurance. The National Center for Mental Health Promotion received exclusive rights in Saudi Arabia to implement the Mental Health First Aid program from the International Mental Health First Aid Organization, reflecting the Kingdom’s broad excellence in quality, innovation, and public health.

In specialized healthcare, the 20 health clusters under the Health Holding Company achieved international recognition with 40 centers accredited by the American Heart Association, including 20 centers for chest pain and heart attack care and 20 for stroke care. King Fahad Medical City was also accredited as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and a Comprehensive Chest Pain Center by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, confirming Saudi Arabia’s global advancement in specialized care.

On the international representation front, Saudi Arabia strengthened its presence in global organizations by being re-elected as vice-chair of the Codex Alimentarius Commission until 2027, and Lean Business Services joined the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health’s National Initiatives Forum, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing role in supporting international standards and fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange in health and science.

In international certifications, the Ministry of Health’s Najran branch earned three ISO certificates in artificial intelligence, occupational health and safety management, and environmental management. The Council of Health Insurance and the National Unified Procurement Company for Medical Supplies (NUPCO) received 13 ISO certificates in various fields, while the Health Holding Company was named a “Great Place to Work” by the organization of the same name.

In operational excellence, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority received the TMMi maturity model certificate and ISO 41001 certification for facility management systems, while its Asir branch earned an ISO certificate, highlighting the development of operational and administrative capabilities and the enhancement of emergency services in line with global best practices.

These achievements reflect the advanced status of Saudi Arabia’s health sector and its ability to turn transformation goals into internationally recognized accomplishments. The Ministry of Health continues its supervisory and regulatory role in coordination with sector partners to enhance service quality, sustain excellence, and reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a global model in healthcare development, innovation, and institutional excellence.