Riyadh – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts the third meeting of the International Yemen Health Coordination Group, jointly organized by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with the participation of the Ministry of Public Health and Population of the Republic of Yemen, along with several donors, international organizations, and UN agencies.
The meeting aims to strengthen international coordination to support the health sector in Yemen, define priorities for health interventions, and discuss funding challenges, contributing to the development of the health system and improving the quality of medical services provided.
The meeting, which brought together a constellation of international organizations and bilateral donors, includes several specialized sessions and workshops that review progress in the health sector, discuss priority needs, and explore mechanisms to support and enhance the sustainability of the health system, with a focus on primary healthcare services and expanding access to them.
Participants also discuss means of strengthening partnerships between international actors and the Yemeni government, integrating development efforts to improve the efficiency of health services and achieve tangible, sustainable impact, and unifying international efforts toward health priorities in Yemen.
The meeting highlights the importance of integrating international efforts and strengthening partnerships to support Yemen's health sector, thereby improving healthcare capacity and promoting sustainable development.

Prof. Dr. Qassem Buhaibeh, Yemen's Minister of Public Health and Population, said: "I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and our international partners for their unwavering support and partnership. Together, we have accomplished a great deal, and that hard work is reflected in the progress we are seeing across Yemen's health system. We continue to work hard to protect the gains made and sustain core services. I am deeply grateful for the pledges of continued international support and partnership so that we can continue to serve the Yemeni people."
For his part, the Supervisor General of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, Ambassador Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, stated:
“The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen places special emphasis on the health sector as a key pillar of comprehensive development. In this context, the Program will commence operations this year at King Salman Medical and Educational City in AlMahrah Governorate — a landmark medical complex established and equipped by the Program in accordance with the highest internationally accredited medical standards.
The Program is also implementing several projects to support the healthcare sector and enhance access to medical services. These projects include the construction of Hadhramout University Hospital to meet the growing healthcare needs of the governorate; Al Ain Rural Hospital in Taizz Governorate; Ad Dali Rural Hospital; the Maternal and Child Health Center; and the Emergency Obstetric Center in Ras Al Ara. Together, these projects aim to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and services while expanding their reach and impact.”

Abda Sharif, His Majesty's Ambassador to Yemen, said: "Today's meeting demonstrates the strength of international partnership in support of Yemen’s health system. I thank the Government of Yemen and the Minister for Public Health and Population for their leadership, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continued innovative support, including the new Health Fund for Yemen. The UK remains firmly committed to supporting the Yemeni people. Today’s announcement of £25m in new funding will help strengthen primary healthcare services, especially for women and children. The challenges are considerable, and there is more to do, but today’s discussion demonstrates that, by working together, we can deliver meaningful progress."

Transforming the Healthcare Sector in Yemen
This meeting comes as an extension of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen's efforts to support the health sector. To date, the Program has implemented roughly 50 health projects and initiatives in Yemen.
In Aden, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital has delivered more than four million medical services to date, operating with 270 beds and backed by over 2,000 medical devices. The Program has also constructed the King Salman Medical and Educational City in Al Mahrah, a 110-bed complex designed to serve one of Yemen's most remote and underserved governorates.
Additionally, SDRPY supports 30 medical facilities across 13 governorates — from Aden and Taizz in the south to Hajjah and Al-Jawf in the north — with the explicit aim of reducing the burden of medical referrals that force patients to travel vast distances for basic care.
Specialized units have also been built into the network. A dialysis center in Al Mahrah has surpassed 100,000 treatment sessions, while a cardiac center at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital has performed more than 10,000 surgeries and catheterization procedures.
Training the Next Generation
SDRPY’s support of the health sector extends to investments in medical education — an area critical to any lasting recovery. The Program has equipped the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Aden, established three health colleges at the University of Taizz, and opened a health college in Al Mahrah.
Alongside institutional development, SDRPY has launched specialized training programs, including the Yemeni Fellowship in Cardiology, diplomas in intensive care and respiratory care, and Arab Board certification programs.
These efforts are part of an integrated development framework that encompasses 287 development projects and initiatives implemented by SDRPY across eight vital sectors, including health, education, energy, water, transport, agriculture, fisheries, and enhancing and strengthening government capabilities