“The new plan aims at controlling increasing health-care expenses that represent four percent of the Kingdom’s GDP,” a report from KACST on Wednesday said.

The new plan would focus on development in water, oil and gas, petrochemicals, nanotechnology and biotechnology, among others.

The participating bodies and authorities agreed to work together on a vision for the Saudi medical and health research program, which is geared at fostering the health and well being of Saudis by developing local human resources and producing experts in important fields.

The plan will develop strategic research goals after studying common diseases in the Kingdom. They include infectious and non-contagious conditions, including diabetes, heart diseases and circulatory disorders, cancer, allergies, asthma and neurological diseases, according to the KACST report.

The strategic plan is based on an analysis of the experiences of users of technology, medical sciences and health care as well as related bodies, authorities and entities in the Kingdom.