وزارة الصحة | |
Fahad Al-Jalajel, the current Minister of Health since 2021 | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1950 |
Jurisdiction | Government of Saudi Arabia |
Headquarters | Riyadh 24°39′28″N 46°42′56″E / 24.65778°N 46.71556°E |
Agency executive |
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Website | Official English Website |
The Ministry of Health (Arabic: وزارة الصحة), commonly abbreviated to MoH, is the ministry overseeing the health care and health policy of Saudi Arabia. The ministry is tasked with formulating strategies to ensure public health in the country, while also managing crucial health infrastructure.
The Ministry's origins can be traced to 1925, when a number of regional health departments were established, with the first in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. As the country grew economically during the 1940s, the Saudi government created the first national Ministry of Health in the country, appointing Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud as the Kingdom's first Minister of Health. During the next couple of decades, the ministry oversaw the development and construction of numerous hospitals and regional clinics. As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy grew in the 1970s and 1980s, so did its healthcare requirements. During this period the MOH oversaw the construction of hospitals in major cities and other health centers in areas with smaller populations.
Eng. Fahad Al-Jalajel is the current Minister of Health, who was appointed as the Minister of Health[1] after Tawfig Al-Rabiah was relieved from this position in October 2021 and appointed Minister of Hajj and Umrah.[2]