Today’s children are the architects of tomorrow. Investing in their health and wellbeing is essential to building an active and thriving society.
Recognizing this, Saudi Arabia has launched a medical screening initiative for new students prior to school admission to boost prevention and improve the quality of health services for all age groups. This directly aligns with the objectives of the Quality of Life Program under Vision 2030, which aims to build a vibrant society.
Prevention Better Than Cure
The Big Picture: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has completed the fitness screenings for 332,931 students enrolling in schools for the academic year 1448 AH (2026/2027).
Why It Matters: The fitness screenings aim to determine the appropriate educational track (General Education or Special Education), ensure the completion of essential primary vaccinations, and enable early detection of health issues, thereby elevating the quality of preventive health services.
Initiative Details:
- Medical history review.
- Clinical examination.
- Weight, height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement.
- Visual acuity (eyesight) screening.
- Dental screening.
- Hearing screening.
- Health education.
Fitness Screening: A Connected Ecosystem for Youth Health
Between the Lines: The fitness screening initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Ministries of Health and Education, the Public Health Authority (Weqaya), and health clusters to raise awareness among families and students and ensure that children receive essential preventive services.
Key Objectives:
- Early detection of auditory, visual, mental, or physical disabilities.
- Early detection of infectious or chronic diseases.
- Ensuring the completion of all basic vaccinations.
- Creating a medical examination results database.
- Raising health awareness and necessary guidance related to detected cases.
A Smooth Digital Experience
State of Play: Parents book a fitness screening appointment at the healthcare center using the Sehhaty App, leveraging the digital platform to create an integrated network connecting home, school, and healthcare centers.
Catch Up Quick: According to the Saudi Internet 2025 report, issued by the Communications and Space Technology Commission (CST), Sehhaty App ranked 6th among the most downloaded government applications.
Healthy Youth: The Road to a Vibrant Society
The Context: In line with the objectives of the Quality of Life Program and Health Sector Transformation Program, Saudi Arabia places great emphasis on boosting public wellbeing, healthcare, and daily living standards. To this end, they focus on prevention-first models, including conducting disease screenings for early detection, encouraging physical activity, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
The Strategy: Boasting one of the world’s largest youth populations, with nearly 70% of Saudis under the age of 35, the Kingdom invests heavily in its younger generations. These efforts include targeted initiatives and regulations to ensure children’s health and wellbeing.
Enforcing Strict Canteen Rules:
Beyond medical check-ups, concrete measures are transforming the school ecosystem. In early September, the Saudi Ministry of Education introduced stricter health regulations, including banning over 30 unhealthy food and beverage items in school canteens, alongside rolling out new hygiene and preparation standards to provide students with healthier and safer food options.
These bans target products high in sugar, saturated fats, sodium, and artificial additives, including:
- Sugary Beverages: Fizzy drinks, energy and sports drinks, cold teas, and artificial juices.
- Processed Snacks and Confectionery: Chips, ice cream, chocolate-coated biscuits, flavored or chocolate milk, and various candies.
- Unhealthy Prepared Foods: Croissants, processed meats (such as mortadella), and breaded meat, poultry, or fish products.
Building Supportive Environments:
School health policies align with the broader objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Healthy Cities Program, launched in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). This synergy ensures that early screening insights are backed by healthy urban spaces, active school environments, and community-wide wellness standards.
The Impact: These initiatives directly align with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of building a vibrant society anchored in healthy lifestyles and active communities.
Looking Ahead: School screenings and other health initiatives provide an opportunity for prevention and early intervention. This, in turn, has long-term economic and social benefits for Saudi Arabia, including reducing chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular illnesses. Furthermore, a healthy generation boosts national productivity, reduces the burden on the healthcare system, and supports sustainable economic growth.
