Content by the Buzz BusinessHow are you building on the work of the
Saudi National Mental Health Survey?
The results of the survey were similar
to those of other countries and showed
that about 35% of the population has
had a mental illness at some point.The question is, what do we do now?
We need to develop training programs
and increase resources in this area.
That will take time. There simply are not
enough mental health professionals to
treat everyone, so we are also looking
at digital technology as a solution.How receptive is the Saudi healthcare
system to digital innovation?
There is a culture here of wanting to
leapfrog and do the next big thing today
and not tomorrow. This new attitude has
a lot to do with our bold and ambitious
leadership and with Vision 2030. It trickles
down through the culture and we can
feel it at every level in every sector.The findings from the survey have
inspired a new effort to raise awareness of
mental health issues across the Kingdom,
and to marshal resources for initiatives to
prevent, detect, and treat mental health
problems.
A keen believer in the potential of digital
healthcare technology, Altwaijri is now
helping to roll out new apps and health
services that will help Saudi Arabia fight
some of its most pressing health issues.
“Saudi Arabia is facing the same health
challenges as any other developed
country,” she says. “Digital healthcare
products can give us the solutions we
need to fight these global epidemics.”
How is the role of women in
Saudi science changing?
Science is increasingly seen as a great
career opportunity for women in Saudi
Arabia. Because we have women-only
classrooms, female students who are
interested in science are not put off by
the prospect of a predominantly male
atmosphere. After they finish their studies,
many women become very involved
in the work of scientific institutions.
The government has prioritized initiatives
that are supportive of women. As a
member of the Al-Nahda Philanthropic
Society for Women, I am focused on
helping to empower Saudi women
socially and economically, and on
achieving further gains for women in the
workforce in science and other fields.
At the G20 summit in Riyadh next year,
Al-Nahda will be organizing the Women
20 meeting, and we hope to achieve
further gains for women in the workforce.
Q & A
DIGITAL HEALTHCARE APPS ARE EASY TO
SCALE NATIONALLY. IF THEY ARE IN ARABIC, WE
CAN USE THEM ACROSS THE WHOLE REGION.
_
Yasmin Altwaijri,
Head of Epidemiology Research,
King Faisal Specialist Hospital
and Research CentreDo you think Saudi Arabia is
ready to tackle 21st-century
health problems such as
depression and obesity?
Saudi Arabia faces the same health
problems as other developed
countries. My daughter just
graduated in the U.S., and when she
came back to Saudi Arabia there
was no culture shock. The lifestyle
is very similar in many ways. And
because young Saudis are such
heavy smartphone users, I think
there is a great opportunity to treat
people in their homes using apps.
Saudi digital health developers can
create products that are culturally
relevant. And I hope many of these
developers will be women!