SEDCO and NUPCO launch AI-driven health pods for patient self-service across Saudi Arabia
SEDCO, a global leader in digital transformation and customer experience solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NUPCO (National Unified Procurement Company for Medical Supplies) to deploy its AI-powered Self-Service Health Pods across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The partnership was formally announced during the Global Health Exhibition 2025, held recently at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre, in the presence of senior executives from both organisations.
The Self-Service Health Pod is a fully integrated telemedicine unit powered by artificial intelligence. It allows patients to conduct self-measurements of vital signs such as blood pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature before connecting with doctors through a secure teleconsultation system. What sets the solution apart is its AI nursing assistant, which conducts preliminary triage, gathers patient history, and supports real-time transcription for physicians, all through natural, conversational Arabic, including local dialects.
According to Mr. Majdi Shawish, CEO of SEDCO, the collaboration represents a major step forward in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare digitalisation efforts, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 to enhance patient accessibility, streamline service delivery, and integrate advanced technology into the national health ecosystem.
“Saudi Arabia is a vast country with many remote areas, while most of the doctors are practicing in urban regions,” Mr. Majdi remarked, “We believe our Self-Service Health Pods will help bridge this gap by providing 24/7 access to medical consultations, and treatment, provided with automated vital sign assessments without the need for on-site nurses, across rural and urban regions alike. It is a breakthrough in accessibility, efficiency, and patient experience.”
Founded in 1983, SEDCO has built a strong global reputation for its customer experience and digital transformation solutions. With a growing focus on healthcare over the past decade, the company identified opportunities to address gaps in patient access, efficiency, and digital engagement. Through this partnership, SEDCO will supply, implement, and manage the nationwide deployment of NUPCO’s Self-Service Health Pods across hospitals, primary healthcare centres, pharmacies, universities, and remote communities.
The pods can operate in both self-service and nurse-assisted modes, making them ideal for use in hospitals, clinics, and community health centres. According to Shawish, the technology is especially effective for primary care centres that close after working hours, as it enables patients to access consultations without visiting overcrowded emergency departments.
Each pod is equipped with FDA-certified medical devices for accurate measurement and complies with HIPAA and GDPR standards to ensure data security and patient privacy. The system can also be upgraded with additional diagnostic tools, such as digital stethoscopes and ultrasound devices, depending on the doctor’s specialisation.
The technology also supports pharmacies by guiding customers through self-checks, connecting them with doctors, and enabling immediate prescription purchases, improving patient convenience while boosting pharmacy engagement and sales.
During Global Health 2025, NUPCO’s booth attracted significant attention from healthcare leaders and government officials. His Excellency Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, the Minister of Health of Saudi Arabia, visited the booth alongside a delegation from the Ministry, which hailed the self-service Health Pod technology. The visit underscored the Ministry’s commitment to embracing innovation and advancing digital transformation within the Kingdom’s healthcare sector.
“We are proud to partner with NUPCO, a leading force in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare supply and logistics ecosystem,” Shawish added. “Together, we are enabling smarter, more connected, and more efficient healthcare delivery in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions.”
NUPCO, which is operated by the Saudi Health Holding Company, is the largest centralised procurement organisation for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and supplies in the Kingdom. The organisation plays a crucial role in unifying healthcare procurement and supply chains across the country, ensuring cost efficiency and equitable access to medical resources.
The collaboration between NUPCO and SEDCO marks a key milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey toward a digitally enabled, patient-centric healthcare system. The partners plan to expand the deployment of the Self-Service Pods across multiple regions in the coming months, with the goal of increasing healthcare accessibility and operational efficiency across the national network.
