Read the Conversation
Meeting highlights:
- Leadership in Healthcare: Introducing Walid Tekle, a seasoned leader with over 15 years of experience in Saudi Arabia's healthcare ecosystem, who has been at the helm of Baxter in Saudi Arabia for the past 2.5 years.
- Baxter's Mission and Alignment with Vision 2030: Baxter’s footprint and mission in supporting Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision
- Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions: Baxter's diversified portfolio translated into Saudi Arabia, posing Baxter as a holistic partner of choice.
- Education and Health Awareness: The importance of driving forward educational efforts for a healthy population.
- Patient-Centric Innovation: Focusing on patient-centricity translated into providing value to patients.
- Advancing Value-Based Care Models: Shifting towards value-based care and the importance of business models that support health.
- Final Thoughts from Walid Tekle
EF: Could you briefly introduce yourself and the role Baxter has in Saudi Arabia?
WT: I bring 24 years of experience in the healthcare industry, having worked in multiple roles and pursued various educational programs. This journey has shaped my commitment to advancing healthcare and delivering meaningful change. My connection with Saudi Arabia began with my first business visit in 2001, and I relocated here permanently in 2013. In July 2022, I joined Baxter as the Country Director, leading our mission to save and sustain lives and expand Baxter’s presence and impact across the Kingdom’s healthcare landscape.
At Baxter, we are proud to touch the lives of millions of people worldwide every day. Our diverse portfolio spans the entire continuum of care: pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and capital equipment, offering integrated care solutions under one company. These products and therapies are at the heart of hospitals and clinics—from the emergency room to the operating room, the pharmacy to the ICU—and they also play a crucial role in advancing patient care within the home.
In Saudi Arabia, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic, critical care, kidney care, nutrition, hospital, and surgical products used across patient homes, hospitals, physician clinics, and other care settings. Our three main business segments are Medical Products and Therapies (MPT), Healthcare Systems and Technologies (HST)—which encompasses Hillrom’s legacy innovations—and Pharmaceuticals. What I value most about Baxter is the diversity in our portfolio and our focus on delivering integrated care, allowing us to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers.
Ensuring the right culture is in place is a cornerstone of my leadership approach. In rapidly growing economies like Saudi Arabia, success comes from building the right team, fostering strong execution, and maintaining forward planning. By creating a culture that emphasizes customer needs and a true partnership mindset, we can focus on the details and execute with both speed and quality. With this guiding principle at the heart of everything we do, I believe all other aspects of success naturally follow.
EF: Could you elaborate on the footprint Baxter has in Saudi Arabia and what are the priorities?
WT: Starting in 2024, we at Baxter are proud to be among the pioneering companies establishing a headquarters (HQ) in Riyadh, complementing our existing Baxter Scientific office. Before this, we had already stationed multiple employees in Riyadh, supporting the Middle East region across critical functions such as regulatory affairs, supply chain, marketing, and more. Establishing the HQ is a testament to our commitment to growth and deeper engagement within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We are fortunate to witness and be part of the remarkable advancements taking place across Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. The country’s transformation inspires us and serves as a profound learning opportunity, enabling us to serve more patients in the Kingdom. At Baxter, we embrace change as a constant. Whether diversifying our portfolio, evolving our organizational structure, or adapting to meet the needs of patients and countries we serve, our mission remains steadfast. Delivering high-quality products and upholding our core values are the unwavering cornerstones of everything we do.
Through our presence and investments, we remain committed to being a trusted partner in Saudi Arabia’s transformation. Our HQ in Riyadh reflects this dedication as we work to contribute meaningfully to the country’s growth while delivering innovations that improve patient outcomes and advance the future of healthcare.
Saudi Arabia has long stood as the largest market in the region and one of the Middle East’s most dynamic economies, and Baxter is deeply committed to contributing to its growth and the goals of Vision 2030. Our partnership with the National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) exemplifies this commitment, as we embrace new procurement models that reflect Saudi Arabia’s forward-thinking approach. NUPCO’s introduction of value-based agreements is a transformative step, allowing suppliers to provide full-service support for equipment and products in exchange for volume commitments from various customers. This innovative approach brings the flexibility and efficiency often seen in the private sector to public healthcare procurement.
Baxter remains committed to making our innovations available to healthcare professionals and patients in Saudi Arabia. Our customers in the Kingdom are eager for new ideas and advancements, often requesting that their facilities be among the first to implement them.
EF: Could you elaborate on how your diversified portfolio is adapted to Saudi Arabia’s specific market needs, and where you see growth opportunities?
WT: For more than 90 years, Baxter has been operating at the critical intersection where life-saving innovations meet the healthcare providers who bring them to patients. With products, digital health solutions, and therapies available in over 100 countries, we are proud to build upon a rich heritage of medical breakthroughs as we work toward advancing the next generation of transformative healthcare innovations.
At Baxter, our work is driven by a shared purpose. We partner closely with healthcare providers to help them overcome challenges across outpatient and hospital care, enabling care teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients. From outpatient care to hospital wards, the ICU, operating rooms, and even home care, our innovative portfolio supports patient-centric care across the entire continuum of care. This comprehensive approach allows us to open new possibilities for enhancing care throughout a patient’s journey, from primary care to hospital discharge and beyond.
In Saudi Arabia, we are focused on aligning our growth strategy with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, adapting to evolving market needs, and addressing unmet healthcare demands. Our business is structured around three distinct segments: Medical Products and Therapies (MPT), Pharmaceuticals, and Healthcare Systems and Technologies (HST), which includes legacy Hillrom solutions. Each of our business segments operates with its own growth expectations, and my role is to ensure that we grow each one individually. While we adapt to meet market demands, our performance is ultimately measured through the P&L of each segment. This requires a balanced and focused approach to all areas of the business.
An exciting development in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector is the government’s shift toward value-based procurement. This is a transformative change from traditional equipment purchasing to agreements that prioritize value and outcomes. This approach is a significant step forward in enhancing the quality of healthcare services across the Kingdom, aligning with the country’s broader vision for sustainable and patient-focused care.
Ultimately, our goal at Baxter is to partner with healthcare providers to deliver high-quality, patient-focused solutions that meet the challenges of today while advancing innovations for tomorrow. By staying aligned with Saudi Arabia’s evolving healthcare strategy and maintaining our focus on unmet needs, we aim to continue driving growth and improving outcomes across the entire care continuum.
EF: What role do education and training play in the patient journey?
WT: Education is essential to career progression and personal development in any field, but in healthcare, it is a necessity rather than a choice. Healthcare professionals are required to earn Continuous Medical Education (CME) credits to maintain their licenses, underscoring the ongoing demand for knowledge and skill development. At Baxter, we recognize this critical need and are deeply committed to supporting healthcare providers through comprehensive training programs.
Our training programs are holistic and tailored to the unique needs of each stakeholder, covering every step from setup to utilization. We ensure that the equipment is not only understood but also used in the right setting and for the right purpose. By doing this, we maximize the value and the quality of care for both patients and providers.
This approach reflects our commitment to providing a complete solution with every business interaction. We don’t just sell a product; we guarantee it’s being used correctly and effectively to benefit the patient. Importantly, we do this proactively, without expecting financial return, because we believe that education and training are integral to advancing healthcare.
EF: What are the key pillars for a sustainable healthcare roadmap?
WT: The key pillars of any healthcare system are sustainability and ensuring that the local population is equipped to reach the level of care seen in countries like Saudi Arabia today. The most important aspect is taking a holistic approach. You could have the best machine, but if you do not know how to use it properly, it is not effective.
In Saudi Arabia, a holistic approach to healthcare means not just purchasing the machine but ensuring it is working and utilized correctly. This is what we call a value-based approach. It is about creating a comprehensive solution. Buying a machine is only one part of it. The real value comes from ensuring the machine is used to its full potential, effectively improving patient care.
This is why the partnership with the private sector is so critical. In addition, the Ministry of Health recognizes this and has developed value-based agreements. Instead of just buying machines, they want to purchase value—ensuring that the equipment is used properly and delivers the intended results.
EF: What are the key challenges Baxter is addressing in healthcare today, and how do your solutions help healthcare providers navigate these challenges to improve patient outcomes?
WT: At Baxter, we take great pride in being a trusted partner to healthcare providers, delivering clinically essential innovations that transform care throughout the patient journey. Our goal is to empower clinicians to confidently make data-driven decisions, enhance the patient experience, and ultimately save and sustain lives.
We offer connected solutions designed to streamline and simplify care delivery, ensuring they can be scaled to meet the unique needs of our customers. These solutions empower healthcare providers to deliver care with greater confidence by addressing some of the most pressing challenges in patient care today.
One key challenge we focus on is the lack of interoperability between hardware and software systems. When systems can’t communicate effectively, workflows are disrupted, and efficiency is limited. That’s why we prioritize creating interoperable systems and optimizing workflows to help streamline operations for healthcare providers. Another major challenge is the difficulty of accessing meaningful data to support clinical decision-making. Baxter addresses this by providing real-time insights, enabling clinicians to make informed decisions that improve patient care.
Staffing shortages and rising clinician workloads are additional challenges we are helping to address. We’ve developed solutions that enhance communication and care coordination, helping to alleviate the burden on healthcare professionals. By focusing on tools that streamline operations and improve efficiency, we enable clinicians to focus on what matters most: their patients.
Finally, to ensure continuous patient support, we offer advanced diagnostics and remote monitoring tools that facilitate seamless care throughout the patient journey. These innovations not only help healthcare providers deliver higher-quality care but also create more opportunities for proactive, patient-centric healthcare.
EF: How would you like to be remembered at Baxter five years from now?
WT: I want to make a meaningful difference wherever I work, regardless of location or situation. Making a difference is very important to me. One thing I value deeply is being proactive. I want to be remembered as someone who was always ahead of the curve, adapting quickly and staying in sync with the changes, especially in Saudi Arabia. Change is happening right now, and we have a choice—either leading or following it. If change is coming, I want to be at the forefront of a company that is providing innovative solutions that always meet patients' needs and healthcare challenges. If we fall behind, we can look at examples like Kodak or Nokia—companies that did not foresee change, but it happened anyway. I cannot lead and adapt to change alone; therefore, I want to ensure the team embraces this change and is on board. My role as a leader is to make sure they know where we are going, why we are going there and what’s in it for them, as said by Jack Welch.
The disruption in Saudi Arabia is part of a broader global trend. If an entire country is going through disruption, we cannot afford to stand still. We must disrupt ourselves every single day to stay in the game or even ahead.
