Saudi Arabia wins the 2025 Arab Health Ministers Council awards in medicine and nursing
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia achieved another medical milestone, adding to its impressive record, during its active participation in the 63rd regular session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers at the League of Arab States. The session, hosted by Tripoli, Libya, last December, saw Saudi professionals win the lion's share of Arab awards in the fields of medicine and nursing for 2025.
Saudi leadership in Arab health forums
This well-deserved recognition affirms the prestigious standing of the healthcare sector in the Kingdom and reflects its rapid development, supported by the wise leadership. These awards, granted by the Council of Arab Health Ministers, are among the highest professional accolades in the Arab world, aiming to encourage scientific research, honor pioneers, and highlight outstanding medical practices that contribute to raising the standard of healthcare in the region.
This victory is not just a passing honor, but rather the result of strategic efforts within the “Health Sector Transformation Program”, one of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs, which aims to restructure the health sector to be a comprehensive, effective and integrated health system based on the health of the individual and society.
Details of the prizes and winners
In the category of “Arab Doctor of the Year 2025 Award,” which is overseen by the Department of Health and Humanitarian Aid at the League of Arab States, two prominent Saudi names emerged:
- The Excellence in Scientific Research and Innovation Award was awarded to Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Bahammam, Director of the Prince Naif Center for Health Research, in recognition of his extensive research contributions that have enriched the Arab and international medical library.
- The Medical Excellence, Leadership and Professional Impact Award was awarded to Dr. Zuhair bin Yousef Al-Halees, Senior Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, in recognition of his long career in performing complex operations and training new generations of surgeons.
Excellence in nursing and crisis management
Saudi excellence wasn't limited to physicians; it extended to the vital nursing sector as well. Within the "Outstanding Work in Nursing and Midwifery" award, the Saudi team achieved first place in the clinical practice category for their "INS Model" project.
The winning team consisted of Dr. Manal Saeed Banaser, Iman Mohammed Al-Shammari, Abdulrahman Abdullah Abu Khada’a, Jawhara Fahad Al-Harbi, and Reem Mohammed Al-Humaidan. Their project focused on “A Capacity Building Model for Critical Care Units During Disasters.” This innovative model was developed in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need to enhance the efficiency of nursing staff and strengthen the healthcare system’s preparedness for a flexible and rapid response to emergencies.
In another joint achievement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Badriya Awad Al-Shehri, Chief Nursing Officer at King Saud Medical City, received an award in the same category for the “Natathon” project. This project focuses on developing nursing education and training using modern methods, directly contributing to enhancing staff efficiency and improving the quality of healthcare outcomes, thus ensuring the provision of safe and high-quality patient care.
Future impact of the achievement
This strong presence of Saudi professionals reinforces confidence in the local healthcare system and demonstrates the Kingdom's success in investing in human capital. These awards also open broader horizons for joint Arab cooperation in medical research and the exchange of expertise, ultimately benefiting Arab citizens and contributing to the building of sustainable, healthy societies.
