Riyadh hosted the third meeting of the International Yemen Health Coordination Group, organized by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population. With over 20 representatives from international donors and UN agencies, the meeting aligned priorities and addressed funding gaps to strengthen Yemen’s health sector and national health strategy.
Yemeni Minister of Public Health and Population Dr. Qasim Buhaibeh thanked Saudi Arabia, the UK, and international partners for their steadfast support in sustaining essential services.
SDRPY Supervisor General Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber emphasized that health is a pivotal pillar of development. He announced that the King Salman Medical and Educational City in Al-Mahrah will begin operations this year, alongside ongoing projects such as the Hadhramout University Hospital and various rural hospitals and maternity centers across several governorates, SPA reported.
UK Ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif stated that the meeting embodies the strength of international partnerships supporting Yemen’s health system. She thanked the Yemeni government and Minister Buhaibeh for their leadership, as well as Saudi Arabia for its support via the new Yemeni health fund.
Affirming the UK’s commitment to the Yemeni people, she noted that the announced £25 million in new funding will help strengthen primary healthcare for women and children, highlighting that such joint action achieves tangible progress despite ongoing challenges.
This collaboration builds on SDRPY’s extensive efforts, which include 50 health-related projects supporting 30 medical facilities across 13 governorates. Notable achievements include the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital, which has provided over four million services, and specialized centers for cardiology and nephrology.
Beyond infrastructure, SDRPY focuses on building healthcare capacity through medical education, including equipping the College of Pharmacy at Aden University and establishing health colleges in Taiz and Al-Mahrah. These initiatives are part of a broader development system comprising 287 projects across eight vital sectors, including education, energy, and water, aimed at supporting the Yemeni government and its people.