RIYADH: The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Programme for Yemen (SDRPY) is supporting the development of Yemen’s healthcare sector through more than 40 development projects and initiatives, alongside assistance to 30 medical facilities across 13 governorates.
These efforts aim to improve the quality of healthcare services and expand access to medical care throughout the country, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.
The programme’s initiatives include the construction, equipping and operation of hospitals and medical centres, as well as training and capacity-building programmes for healthcare professionals.
مشروعات تنموية سعودية لتعزيز منظومة الرعاية الصحية في اليمن.
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Major medical facilities expand access to healthcare
One of the programme’s flagship projects is the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in Aden, one of Yemen’s leading medical institutions. Covering an area of 20,000 square metres, the 270-bed hospital features 14 specialised clinics, a cardiac centre and more than 2,000 pieces of medical equipment.
Since its inauguration by SDRPY in January 2023, the hospital has delivered nearly five million medical services up to October 2026. These include 31,000 surgical procedures across several specialities, including general surgery, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynaecology, urology and neurosurgery. The hospital has also performed more than 11,000 cardiac surgeries and catheterisation procedures.
In Al-Mahra Governorate, King Salman Medical and Educational City covers one million square metres. The facility includes a 110-bed hospital with outpatient clinics, emergency services, laboratory and radiology departments, inpatient wards, surgical units, adult and paediatric intensive care units, and specialised cardiac care and catheterisation facilities.
SDRPY also supports specialised healthcare centres, including a dialysis centre in Al-Mahra that has delivered more than 100,000 medical services, including over 22,000 dialysis sessions. In Socotra, the programme has rehabilitated the Mother and Child Centre and two other health centres, strengthening primary healthcare, reproductive health services and emergency response capabilities.
In Marib Governorate, the programme has supplied medical equipment to Kara General Hospital, 26 September Hospital and Marib General Hospital. It also operates hospitals in Socotra and Shabwah, helping to improve the availability of essential medical services in these areas.
Healthcare training and new projects strengthen the sector
Alongside infrastructure development, SDRPY is investing in Yemen’s healthcare workforce. The programme has established and equipped faculties of medicine, pharmacy and nursing at Taiz University and supports health education at other Yemeni universities.
Its professional development initiatives include the Arab Board programme, the Yemeni Fellowship in Cardiology, and diploma programmes in respiratory care and intensive care. These initiatives aim to strengthen medical expertise and improve the capacity of healthcare professionals to deliver specialised services.
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Several additional healthcare projects are under way, including Hadhramout University Hospital, Al-Ain Rural Hospital in Taiz Governorate, Al-Dhale Rural Hospital and Sabah Hospital in Abyan Governorate. The programme is also constructing a maternal and child health centre and an obstetric emergency centre in Ras Al-Ara, Lahj Governorate.
To date, SDRPY has implemented 300 development projects and initiatives across 16 Yemeni governorates, spanning eight sectors: education, health, energy, water, transport, agriculture and fisheries, development programmes, and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Yemeni government. These efforts reflect the programme’s broader commitment to supporting essential services and sustainable development across Yemen.
