The Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF), headquartered in Cyprus, and senior officials of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their shared commitment to accelerating progress in the prevention, control, and holistic management of thalassemia and other hemoglobin disorders, according to a press release by the TIF.
A high-level, “strategically focused meeting” was held on 14 December, it said, building “on the long-standing and productive collaboration” between the Federation and Saudi Arabia.
The TIF delegation was led by Androulla Eleftheriou, Executive Director of the Federation, and included Professors John Porter, Khaled Musallam, and Dimitrios Farmakis, all “renowned experts” and members of TIF’s International Scientific Advisory Board.
The Saudi Ministry of Health was represented by Mohammed K. Alabdulaali, Assistant Minister for Hospital Services, Dr Hatoon Mohammed Ezzat, Adviser to the Minister and General Supervisor of Blood Disorders, and Professor Ahmad Tarawah, Consultant in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Discussions resulted in a clear framework for ambitious joint initiatives, it said, focusing on co-developing targeted educational programmes, exchanging best practices, and supporting regional and international efforts to enhance standards of care and measurably improve patients’ quality of life.
“This approach reflects the TIF’s consistent strategic priority to cultivate and strengthen high-level partnerships with countries where the prevalence of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies remains significant”, it said.
The meeting, according to the press release, also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s “global leadership in access to innovative therapies”, including the world’s first approval of PYRUKYND (mitapivat) for adult patients with transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion-dependent alpha- or beta-thalassemia.
Dr. Alabdulaali confirmed plans for an official Saudi Health Ministry visit to Cyprus next year to further exchange expertise in prevention and comprehensive management of hemoglobin disorders, it said.
(Source: CNA)
