At this year’s Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh, Haleon stepped forward as a leader in healthcare and a purpose-driven partner in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation.

In an exclusive interview with Saudi Gazette, Darśana Nair, General Manager of Haleon Saudi Arabia, shares how the company is working hand-in-hand with communities, government, and healthcare professionals to make prevention, self-care, and health literacy a reality for all.

Q. What does the company hope to achieve from its participation at GHE?
The Global Health Exhibition (GHE) 2025 was a landmark event in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare calendar and, for Haleon, it’s a pivotal opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the Kingdom’s health transformation. GHE brought together visionary leaders, policymakers, and industry innovators under one roof, and at a time when the entire sector is at a turning point. Participating at GHE was not just about visibility for us; it’s about being part of a genuine movement to reimagine health for everyone in Saudi Arabia.
At GHE, we reiterated our ambition to drive and deliver a proactive preventive healthcare system. The event’s theme, “Invest in Health”, directly echoes our own purpose: delivering better everyday health with humanity. Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation program (HSTP) is shifting the national focus from treatment to prevention, and that’s where Haleon’s expertise shines.
We shared our vision for how health can be more accessible, personalized, and sustainable. Through our immersive booth and participation in the Medical Excellence Forum and Leadership Summit, we’re demonstrating the tangible impact of innovation, local investment, and robust colalboration.
We also see GHE as a nexus for building relationships with government stakeholders, healthcare professionals, and local communities. Saudi Arabia is investing significantly in its healthcare sector and GHE offers us the chance to connect directly with decision-makers, to listen and learn as much as to share. It’s an unmatched setting for forging the partnerships that will accelerate shared health goals.

Q. What is Haleon doing to empower Saudi communities to take ownership of their health, especially when it comes to preventive care and self-care?
Empowering communities to take charge of their health is at the heart of our work at Haleon. We see prevention and self-care not just as industry trends, but as fundamental rights for every individual in Saudi Arabia and beyond. The shift from treatment to prevention is gaining real momentum, and we are determined to help make that shift practical and sustainable for all.
One of the biggest barriers to better health remains low health literacy. Many people simply lack access to information that’s relatable, actionable, and culturally relevant. We are working to change that by embedding prevention into dailty routines, whether through nutritional literacy, oral care education, or digital tools that help people make better choices.
Take our Healthy Saudi Smile initiative, for example. Now one of the region’s largest oral health campaigns, aimed at improving oral health across the kingdom. The goal is simple but transformative: provide people with the knowledge and resources to improve their oral hygiene, prevent disease, and develop habits that last a lifetime.
Another cornerstone of our approach is the Haleon Pain Management Institute, which empowers healthcare professionals and patients alike. We provide training, resources, and evidence-based strategies to improve pain management outcomes, critical for both prevention and quality of life.
Digital innovation is another powerful lever. Our PharmaConnect platform, designed specifically for Saudi Arabia, digitizes pharmacy engagement, making it easier for people to access advice and products without unnecessary barriers. Similarly, our HealthPartner platform offers healthcare professionals ongoing access to scientific insights and product knowledge, helping to raise the standard of care throughout the country.
At the community level, we focus on tailored outreach, making sure our campaigns and programs are locally relevant and inclusive. We recognize the diversity of the Saudi population and strive to ensure that self-care is accessible for everyone, regardless of age, gender, geography, or socioeconomic status. Our products are priced and distributed to reflect local needs, and we work closely with public and private partners to expand reach and impact.

Q. How does Haleon ensure its approach to health is inclusive and sustainable for all communities in the Kingdom?
Inclusivty and sustainability are at the core of both our business and our purpose. In a country as dynamic and diverse as Saudi Arabia, it’s critical that no one is left behind as the healthcare system advances.
On inclusivity, we go beyond simply offering products. Our Healthy Saudi Smile campaign, for instance, is not limited to major cities, it reaches rural schools and clinics as well. We create educational resources in Arabic and in formats tailored to different literacy levels, ensuring that health information is accessible across the Kingdom. We also invest in training pharmacists and healthcare professionals to serve as trusted guides, especially in underserved areas.
Digital solutions are another way we reach more people. PharmaConnect and HealthPartner help us bridge the urban-rural divide, making sure that both consumers and healthcare professionals in remote regions have access to the same quality information, products, and support as those in larger cities.
Sustainability, for us, means building healthcare systems that last, not just environmentally, but economically and socially. We are proud to have one of the lowest carbon footprints in our sector, and local manufacturing of products reduces our reliance on long-distance shipping, cuts emissions, and supports local economies. Nearly half of our workforce in Jeddah comprises Saudi nationals, which not only boosts local talent but also ensures our programs are attuned to the communities we serve.
We also champion public-private partnerships as a powerful driver of sustainability. Our collaboration with the Ministry of Investment to localize Panadol manufacturing is just one example of how we are supporting job creation, industrial growth, and supply chain resilience. By promoting prevention and self-care, we also help reduce the long-term burden on hospitals and making the healthcare system more sustainable for everyone.

Q. How does Haleon’s strategy support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals?
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is bold, ambitious, and deeply inspiring. It places healthcare at the center of national transformation, and at Haleon, we ourselves as true partners in making those aspirations a reality.
Our strategy is directly aligned with the Health Sector transformation Program, the engine of Vision 2030’’s healthcare ambitions. We are focused on prevention, health literacy, and equitable access, which are all central pillars of the Kingdom’s new approach to health. Our portfolio reflects this: around 70% of our Saudi business is dedicated to over-the-counter consumer healthcare, supporting self-care and prevention, while the rest focuses on therapeutic oral care.
We also view Saudi as a strategic hub for regional growth. Our presence here is not just about serving a market, it’s about building a model for health innovation, partnership, and impact that resonates across the Middle East and beyond.
Our work in digital health, community empowerment, and public-private partnership all support Vision 2030’s call for integrated, forward-looking, and sustainable health solutions. We are proud to be an enabler of the Kingdom’s health ambitions and to walk this transformative journey alongside our partners, stakeholders, and communities.