The localization drive initiated by the MHRSD has been instrumental in creating large number of jobs for young Saudi men and women

Young Saudi men and women have benefited greatly from the localization effort in the pharmaceutical industry that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, launched. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the number of persons employed in the pharmaceutical industry has increased from 1,266 in 2020 to over 10,000 in 2023, exceeding the goal set for it by 700%. The ministry's initiatives have helped to encourage the Saudiization of the private sector and offer employment possibilities that are compatible with the ministry's goals and plans for bolstering the domestic labour market.

During the current year, more than 1,300 pharmacists have been hired and qualified to work in the private pharmacy business. The majority of people who work as chemists are employed by large pharmaceutical production businesses, pharmaceutical supply companies, and hospitals with active chemists. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, MHRSD developed a strategy for implementing its aim to gradually localise the pharmacy industry, beginning with a rate of 30% and a minimum pay of SR7000.

As part of their effort to provide more stimulating and fruitful job opportunities for male and female citizens in various regions of the Kingdom, the two ministries are regularly reviewing the status of the sector and studying raising the appropriate nationalisation rate to accommodate those who have completed graduation and those who are pursuing graduation courses in the pharmacy science. The option for Saudi pharmacists to work in private hospitals, medical facilities, pharmaceutical firms and factories, as well as neighbourhood pharmacies, has substantially increased as a result of this decision.

The MHRSD highlighted its ongoing efforts to create job opportunities in the pharmacy industry for male and female residents as well as to raise the trust of society and the country in them while praising the excellence of Saudi youth working in the field. To guarantee that pharmacies around the Kingdom are following the Saudization decision and implementing it, the ministry's supervisory teams conduct ongoing monitoring trips.

As part of the second edition of the Saudization programme, the ministry started transferring the localization tasks to six supervisory bodies, including "Health; Commerce; Tourism, Transportation and Logistics Services; Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing; and Industry and Mineral Wealth," where the supervisory authorities, in coordination with the ministry, periodically review the status of the sector and the professions targeted for Saudization. In accordance with this model, a research is being done to increase the suitable Saudization rate in the pharmacy profession in order to accommodate the pharmacists who have graduated and those who are scheduled to graduate in the future.

The Saudization plan of the ministry is built on a number of tracks to produce employment possibilities that are appropriate for job seekers' credentials. In addition to giving priority in obtaining benefits from all available nationalisation support programmes in the system, it offers the private sector establishments a number of incentives and support programmes to assist them in hiring Saudis. These include supporting the process of attracting and searching for suitable workers, supporting the necessary training and qualification process, and supporting the recruitment and career continuity process.