National Center for Disease Prevention and Control

The National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, "Weqaya," is the entity responsible for monitoring, measuring, evaluating, and combating public health risk factors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This includes managing both infectious and non-infectious diseases, injuries, and other health challenges. In March 2021, the Council of Ministers approved the transformation of the center into a public authority named the "Public Health Authority".

On April 29, 2013, the center was established by a decision of the Council of Ministers to be one of the health institutions tasked with achieving some of the health aspects of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly regarding disease prevention and control.

The National Center for Disease Prevention and Control has several departments, including the Surveillance and Preparedness Department, the Infectious Diseases Department, the Non-Communicable Diseases Department, the Health Improvement and Promotion Department, and the Healthy Environments and Communities Department.

The National Center for Disease Prevention and Control has several roles and responsibilities, including conducting studies and research that promote well-being, monitoring and tracking diseases domestically and internationally, exchanging information with international health organizations and establishing a database in this regard, developing plans, regulations, and programs in the field of health promotion in coordination with relevant authorities, as well as identifying health problems and establishing a national health record using research findings and data from other national databases.

The center coordinates its business from its headquarters in the capital, Riyadh, and supervises the Public Health Laboratory, which includes several specialized laboratories, with some targeting the detection of neglected tropical diseases, infectious diseases, antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, influenza, respiratory diseases, and other specialties.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the center played a crucial role in addressing it by establishing preventive protocols that regulate the work of government and private entities during the pandemic. On March 17, 2020, the center announced the commencement of its laboratories' study on the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) using Next Generation Sequencing technology.

On March 2, 2021, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the transformation of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control into a public authority named the "Public Health Authority," along with approving its regulatory arrangements.

Among the tasks of the authority is to enhance the general readiness to respond to public health emergencies such as (pandemics and epidemics). This is achieved by coordinating efforts between relevant entities, developing response plans leading to recovery, and clearly defining roles and responsibilities in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.