The Department of Planning and Studies in the Ministry of Health celebrated the signing of a research cooperation agreement with UQU Medical Science Research Center. the celebration took place in the Ministry's grand meetings hall on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

The Pharmacist Azari bint Faisal Al-Otaibi and Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Planning and Institutional Excellence Mr. Abdul-Aziz Hassan Abdul-Bagi highlighted the importance of this partnership in the integration between the participating bodies in moving towards the Kingdom Vision 2030 and the ministry's strong desire to activate this partnership in a real and measurable form. It should be noted here that this partnership includes also King Saud University, Al-Faisal University, and Riyadh Elm University.  

Within the same vein, the Director of UQU Medical Science Research Center Dr. Khalid Abo Al-Shamat who represented the university in the meeting said that such partnerships are reckoned real investment of human and academic expertise in the universities besides the large potentials and date of the Ministry of Health to achieve sustainable development based on research marketing by focusing on the Ministry's priorities. 

The agreement included directing research priorities for the ministry, conducting training courses and workshops, creating a database for researchers and exchanging information, scientific materials in addition to participating in the joint international forums and conferences. 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the cooperation agreement was signed and memorial photos were taken in the presence of the Minister  of Health Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah who praised the efforts  provided by the General Department for Research and Studies and the participation of the universities in such manner which serves the kingdom and its promising vision.  

 It should be mentioned that the agreement was supported by the UQU President Prof. Abdullah Omar Bafail, UQU Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, the Director of the Legal Department Dr. Hamdan Al-Ghamdi and the significant efforts  exerted by the Dean of Scientific Research Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Ahdal who sponsored the agreement till reaching agreement signing and implementation phase,  the Director of UQU Medical Science Research Center Dr. Khalid Abo Al-Shamat, the Center's Deputy Director Dr. Somaiya Hariri  and the Vice Dean of Research Centers Dr. Mohamed Mukhtar.