Wesam Medical Holding, a Saudi healthcare investment company, announced the signing of a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the US-based McLaren Health Care, one of the largest healthcare networks in Michigan and the operator of the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The agreement aims to establish a specialized hematology and oncology hospital in Riyadh, as one of the deals announced on the Global Health Exhibition, which was held in Riyadh from October 27-30, 2025.

This partnership represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector, representing McLaren’s entry into the Kingdom to provide comprehensive, integrated services for hematology and oncology patients, aligning with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program and Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance the quality of care and localize medical expertise and modern technologies.

Wesam Medical operates the group's existing Hematology and Oncology Center in Riyadh.

The center provides comprehensive and integrated services to hematology and oncology patients by its highly experienced and qualified Saudi consultants and medical staff.

The services provided include advanced diagnostics and laboratory tests, radiology, chemotherapy, and day-surgery unit.

The center is also in the process of initiating its radiotherapy services soon for its patients.

McLaren Health Care, meanwhile, operates the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Michigan, which is one of the few National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the US. This places it among the global elite of institutions pioneering in cancer treatment and research.

Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in the state, receiving over 14,000 new patients annually.

The Institute is a fully integrated center with a team of hundreds of specialized physicians and researchers, managing numerous scientific programs and clinical trials, offering patients access to many promising and innovative treatments.

The most important strategic objectives of the new hospital are:
1- Meeting High Demand for Specialized Oncology Services: The partnership aims to bridge the current gap in providing specialized and precise care services in hematology and oncology through the private sector, which will ease the burden on governmental referral hospitals and ensure that citizens and residents receive high-quality care within the Kingdom.
2- Leveraging McLaren Health Care's Expertise: The partnership will bring the clinical and operational expertise of McLaren Health Care, specifically the Karmanos Cancer Institute—a leading center for research and advanced treatments in the US—to Saudi Arabia. This supports the Kingdom's efforts to enhance clinical research and national disease registries.
3- Enhancing National Cadres' Competency: This will be achieved by providing high-level training and professional development opportunities for Saudi medical, nursing, and administrative staff, allowing them to directly benefit from the advanced clinical and operational experience of the McLaren Health Care network and the Karmanos Cancer Institute, thereby ensuring the transfer of knowledge and technology and improving the quality of healthcare in the Kingdom.

The new facility will be the first private-sector specialized hematology-oncology hospital in the Kingdom.

The hospital aims to deliver high-quality care through Saudi consultants and a high-caliber multidisciplinary team of physicians and health practitioners.

The partnership between Wesam Medical and McLaren Health Care reflects a shared vision to foster clinical excellence, adopt the latest technologies, and implement internationally recognized best practices in cancer and precision medicine.

The new Hematology and Oncology Hospital will feature 75 beds. Its departments will include inpatient care, intensive care, operating theaters, bone marrow transplantation, in addition to outpatient clinics, chemotherapy units, and radiotherapy units, all aimed at providing comprehensive, high-quality medical care to patients.

The hospital is expected to begin operations in 2029. In its first operational year, the hospital aims to accommodate over 7,000 outpatient visits and treat more than 2,100 cases.

Fahad Ibrahim Al-Khalaf, Chairman of Wesam Medical Holding Company, stated: “This partnership represents an important milestone in realizing our investment vision, which focuses on long-term strategic ventures that add sustainable value to the Kingdom’s healthcare sector. Following the completion of the feasibility study for the hematology and oncology hospital, we are pleased to launch this ambitious project in collaboration with McLaren Health Care, a system recognized globally for its excellence in oncology. Together, we will integrate our local expertise with McLaren’s clinical and technical capabilities to deliver specialized healthcare services of the highest international standards.”

Dr. Barton Buxton, President and CEO of McLaren Health Management Group, commented: “Our collaboration with Wesam Medical Holding marks a significant step in McLaren Health Care’s global strategy. Through this partnership, we aim to extend our mission of delivering value-based healthcare through clinical excellence and cost efficiency beyond the United States. Wesam Medical’s deep understanding of the Saudi healthcare landscape makes it an ideal partner. Together, we will integrate Karmanos Cancer Institute’s world-class oncology standards into the Kingdom’s healthcare system, beginning with Riyadh.”