A massive deal has been struck between the British healthcare technology company Babylon and Saudi Arabia business services firm THIQAH to provide artificial intelligence (AI) based healthcare to citizens across Saudi Arabia. The new agreement will bring a range of unique digital health tools to the country’s residents as AI gets integrated into the Saudi healthcare system. In doing so, residents will benefit from reduced healthcare costs and on-demand healthcare helping them to better manage their health than they are now.
Babylon was founded back in 2013 by Dr Ali Parsa. It’s headquarters are based in London UK and has the rights to be known as the first subscription healthcare service provider of its kind to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Having raised $25 million in its first funding round, the company managed to secure a further $60 million in 2017 to accelerate its AI applications and programs.
“After extensive global research into AI health services, we were in no doubt that Babylon has developed the most sophisticated health artificial intelligence and has invested an enormous amount of effort in making their technology world leading,” said Ayman Abdullah Alfallaj, THIQAH’s CEO. “Because of this we knew that Babylon were the right partners to bring AI health services to Saudi and we are delighted to be working with them.” Alfallaj also went on to thank both the British Embassy and the Saudi Ministry of Health for helping the partnership come together so smoothly.
Babylon’s Founder and CEO, Dr Ali Parsa is also very pleased with the deal. “Babylon’s purpose is to our healthcare in the hands of everyone on earth and we are delighted to be working with THIQAH and the KSA Ministry of Health to extend our AI technology and health services to the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are leading the way in making innovative healthcare services available and accessible for everyone,” he said.
And finally, here’s what Assistant Director of Healthcare UK, the Department for International Trade, Shadi Abu-Hayyeh had to say about it: Healthcare UK is delighted to have played a role in this very exciting contract win, working jointly with the British Embassy team in Riyadh to help facilitate the agreement between Babylon and the Saudi Ministry of Health. It’s a great example of what Healthcare UK was set up to do, connecting UK healthcare suppliers with significant commercial opportunities around the world.”
Source Saudigazette
