The Saudi Press Agency reports that the Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Margaret Chan “expressed thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its cooperation with WHO against Coronavirus.”
“Speaking before the World Health Assembly held in Geneva today, Dr. Chan said ‘The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made great efforts and I appreciate its cooperation against the new virus.’ She also said that any new disease is mysterious, and WHO does not have answers to all questions on this virus.Meanwhile, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Ola Alwan said that there is close cooperation between WHO and the Government of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Health. This cooperation will continue, and WHO will form a joint task group of experts with Saudi Arabia to assess the current situation and review the actions taken to control and combat the virus.”
The emergence of a new SARS-like coronavirus in Saudi Arabia has drawn international and widespread media attention in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia officially lamented at the Geneva meeting on Thursday that “foreign drug companies had patented the new SARS-like virus that has killed 22 people worldwide in less than a year,” which was “slowing down the diagnosis process considerably,” Channel News Asia reported.
The accusation from Saudi Deputy Health Minister Ziad Memish caused the WHO chief to say that she would “look at the legal implications together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Chan said, “No IP (intellectual property) should stand in the way of you, the countries of the world, to protect your people,” which reportedly drew thunderous applause from the audience in Geneva.
