Saudi Arabia invites US firms to invest in health care sector

Saudi Arabia is seeking foreign investments in its health care industry as it plans to privatize state-run hospitals and primary care centers, said Health Minister Tawfig Al-Rabiah in interview with Bloomberg in Boston.

The kingdom invites US companies to invest in various health care and pharmaceutical services, whether they want to invest 100 percent directly or through partnerships with local companies, he said.

Starting next year, authorities intend to create multiple corporations to manage 279 hospitals and 2,300 primary care centers. The process will separate regulation from operations, but the government will retain ownership, Al-Rabiah said.