At the heart of this transformation lies a powerful belief: that the key to long-term wellness is not just curing disease, but preventing it before it starts.

This shift aligns closely with Vision 2030, which aims to create a vibrant society where every citizen enjoys a high quality of life, supported by world-class healthcare and wellness initiatives.

At the Global Health Conference in Riyadh, medical experts, investors, and policymakers gathered to discuss strategies that promote preventive healthcare and encourage citizens to take greater responsibility for their well-being.

The conference highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to creating a healthcare system that balances advanced medical treatment with public health awareness and education.

Dr. Walid Ftehi, founder and CEO of the International Medical Center, emphasized that health is not limited to physical wellness—it also involves the mind and the soul.

He described this approach as “a holistic concept of medicine,” explaining that healing should address the entire person rather than isolated symptoms.

According to him, the hospital’s mission has always been to pioneer this holistic model by applying global medical standards while maintaining strong ethical values and a deep sense of compassion.

Ftehi noted that many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, stem from unhealthy lifestyles. He believes that prevention through better lifestyle choices is one of the most effective ways to reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

“More than 90 percent of diseases are the result of our own choices,” he said. “If we change how people eat, think, and live, we can eliminate up to 80 to 90 percent of chronic illnesses.”

His message reflects the growing realization that healthcare begins with personal responsibility and everyday habits that promote balance and well-being.

Echoing his view, Dr. Ashraf Amir, Chief Medical Officer at the International Medical Center, highlighted the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to make prevention a national priority.

He explained that the healthcare transformation under Vision 2030 encourages physicians to focus on improving the overall quality of life rather than solely treating illness.

“We are moving from intervention to prevention, from disease to health, from illness to wellness,” he said. “As physicians, our role is not only to treat but to guide our patients toward healthier, more fulfilling lives.”

Amir also pointed out that this transformation is already showing measurable results. The Ministry of Health has been working to increase life expectancy through better healthcare policies and proactive wellness programs.

“A few years ago, the average life expectancy was 76,” he explained. “Our goal is to reach 80 by 2045, and we have already achieved 79 years. This demonstrates that our shift toward prevention is truly working.”

The Kingdom’s healthcare transformation focuses on several strategic pillars, including health awareness campaigns, digital health initiatives, and community-based programs that encourage fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.

Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics are also being used to predict health risks and design early intervention plans tailored to individual needs.

Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on prevention represents a major cultural and policy shift. Instead of reacting to illness, the country is creating a proactive healthcare environment that empowers citizens to make informed decisions about their health.

This includes school programs that teach children about nutrition, nationwide fitness initiatives that encourage physical activity, and collaborations between hospitals, research centers, and government bodies to promote preventive care.

By prioritizing prevention over treatment, Saudi Arabia is not only improving the health of its people but also building a model for future generations.

The transformation reflects a modern vision of healthcare—one that blends innovation with compassion, science with ethics, and medicine with mindfulness.

Through Vision 2030, the Kingdom is proving that a healthy society is not built in hospitals alone, but in homes, schools, and communities where prevention, awareness, and responsibility take center stage.

In doing so, Saudi Arabia is setting a global example of how nations can evolve from treating disease to nurturing lifelong wellness.

Leading this transformation is Dr. Selwa Al-Hazzaa, founder of the pioneering health-tech startup SDM, which recently launched the Saudi Automated Mammogram Image Analysis (SAMIA) system—an advanced AI solution designed to identify breast cancer within minutes.

Dr. Al-Hazzaa explained that October was chosen for SAMIA’s launch to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, underscoring the commitment to promoting early detection and saving lives.

The startup SDM, incubated at The Garage in the King Abdullah City for Science and Technology, initially focused on diagnosing diabetic retinopathy through retinal imaging.

Now, it has expanded its expertise to include breast cancer diagnostics, marking a new milestone in Saudi Arabia’s medical innovation journey.

SAMIA uses AI algorithms trained on thousands of mammogram images from Saudi patients. This localized data gives it an edge over foreign technologies, ensuring greater accuracy and sensitivity when screening women in the Kingdom.

Unlike traditional mammogram procedures that often require patients to wait days or even weeks for results, SAMIA delivers detailed, annotated analyses within minutes.

The system identifies suspicious areas, grades the findings, and sends instant reports to physicians, significantly reducing waiting times and anxiety for patients.

Early detection plays a crucial role in improving survival rates. According to the Ministry of Health, more than half of breast cancer cases in Saudi Arabia are diagnosed at a late stage, compared to only 20 percent in more advanced countries.

This delay contributes to higher mortality and treatment costs. However, technologies like SAMIA are helping to change that narrative by enabling faster, more precise screening and promoting preventive healthcare.

Dr. Omar Iskanderani, Assistant Professor and Chairman of Radiotherapy and Tumor Boards at King Abdulaziz University, highlighted the broader benefits of AI in cancer treatment.

He explained that AI enhances accuracy, improves treatment planning, and increases efficiency through real-time analysis of complex medical data.

“With AI, we can offer more personalized care, automate quality control, and ensure consistent, high-quality treatment—even in regions with limited medical resources,” he noted.

He added that early detection can reduce treatment costs by up to 30 percent and significantly improve survival rates, with some studies suggesting up to a 95 percent survival rate when breast cancer is detected in its earliest stages.

Moreover, AI-driven diagnostics like SAMIA support doctors by reducing workloads, allowing them to focus on more complex patient care while AI handles preliminary image analysis.

Dr. Al-Hazzaa emphasized that AI is not meant to replace doctors but to enhance their efficiency. “Artificial Intelligence will never take the place of a physician—it will augment their work,” she said.

“Instead of requiring multiple specialists in one center, AI enables each radiologist to see more patients and make quicker decisions without compromising quality.”

SAMIA’s success also relies on strong partnerships with organizations across the Kingdom. The Saudi Cancer Foundation, led by Mai AlJabr, played a vital role in promoting SDM’s technology in the Eastern Province.

The Ahyaha Society in Madinah supported the initiative by providing mammogram images, while Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University contributed by offering data from over 1,500 patients for the proof of concept phase.

The integration of AI into Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system reflects the nation’s ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and improved quality of life, in line with Vision 2030.

Through initiatives like SAMIA, the Kingdom is not only advancing medical technology but also creating a model for other nations to follow—one that combines compassion, innovation, and science to save lives.

As Saudi doctors continue to harness AI for healthcare, the launch of SAMIA stands as a beacon of hope for women across the Kingdom and beyond, proving that technology and humanity can come together to make early detection faster, treatment more effective, and outcomes brighter.