Memorandum of Cooperation to Advance Global Healthcare Workforce Collaboration
New York, 24 September 2025
The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) that establishes a strategic framework to advance global workforce development, facilitate ease of access, and promote excellence in medical education and training. The agreement reinforces a shared commitment to enhancing healthcare professional competencies, fostering knowledge exchange, and supporting innovative clinical education programs to meet evolving global health demands.
The signing took place during the SCFHS–UNGA80 Event: Health Without Borders – Building a Global Workforce for the Future. The event was held alongside the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a milestone event bringing together world leaders in New York under the theme Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights, amid rising global challenges and urgent calls for renewed multilateral action.
The agreement with SCFHS signals a joint commitment to advancing global healthcare workforce development and facilitating ease of access, elevating medical training standards, fostering knowledge exchange, and developing innovative programs that equip healthcare professionals to address evolving healthcare challenges.
Dr. Mohammed Alrassi, CEO of the Organizational Excellence and Transformation Office at SCFHS, commented:
"This collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland marks a significant milestone towards advancing healthcare education and cultivating a highly skilled, globally competent health workforce. By combining our expertise to offer training capacity across Saudi Board Residency programs, establish qualification recognition pathways, and develop joint training programmes, we will foster shared learning and innovation to create well-trained health professionals who are prepared to lead the health workforce of tomorrow.”
Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, added:
“This agreement marks a significant step forward in our shared mission to strengthen global
healthcare through excellence in education and training. By partnering with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, we are sharing knowledge and clinical expertise with healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes and healthcare access and to shape the future workforce.”
The MoC establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration and knowledge exchange in health professions, including developing professional standards and a code of practice. Areas of joint work include:
- Collaborating to attract top talent to Saudi Board programmes across all physician specialties.
- Mutual recognition and evaluation of health professional training certificates.
- Designing joint clinical education development programmes for affiliated trainees.
- Developing a joint physician residency programme aligned with World Health Organisation education principles.
- Integrating soft skills within medical curricula through collaborative efforts.
- Pursuing additional activities to further cooperation and shared expertise, as mutually agreed.
This partnership supports SCFHS and RCPI in their shared commitment to strengthen international collaboration and build a sustainable, high-quality global healthcare workforce for the future.
About SCFHS
SCFHS is an independent scientific professional body, established in 1992, with the goal of enabling a healthy society through qualified health practitioners
About the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is Ireland’s largest postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care. Founded in 1654, our college supports doctors to enhance their skills, competencies and professionalism throughout their working lives; delivered through structured postgraduate training in hospitals across Ireland, examinations, educational programmes, and continuous professional development opportunities to a network of over 14,000 doctors from 95 countries.
Image (L-R): Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Ambassador Dónal Cronin, Deputy Permanent Representative Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, Mr Fahad Alrowaitea, Executive Director, Executive Administration of Institutional Communication Saudi Commission for Health Specialities