RIYADH: Ambassador Boris Ruge said on Thursday that the visit of the delegation from the State of Rhineland Palatinate in Germany could result in close e-health and tele-medicine collaboration between German and Saudi doctors.

“The delegation met with various Saudi officials to discuss issues of mutual interest to the two countries, particularly health, during their three-day visit,” the German envoy told Arab News.

Ruge hosted a poolside reception on Wednesday night for the delegation at his residence inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ).

The German ambassador also said that the visit came in the wake of important visits made by other German delegations to the Kingdom in the last few months. The delegation left on Thursday night.

“This is an indication of the growing interest in Germany as far as Saudi Arabia is concerned. The two countries are close partners in various fields,” the German envoy told Arab News.

Dr. Joe Weingarten, head of the innovation department of a government agency, said that it was his first visit to the Kingdom and found it very satisfying.

“The Saudi officials we met were hospitable indeed and expressed keen interest in close collaboration in the health sector with us,” he said.

Christophe Reinicke, CEO of Bad Neuenahr or 'New River Spa', added, “we could transfer our technology to local doctors and others in health care involved in the treatment and care of diabetic patients.”

He explained that a doctor from his company in Germany could monitor the condition of a patient in Saudi Arabia through e-health and telemedicine.

Other members of the delegation included Ulrich Link, a member of the ISB executive board; Julia Spinger, Chief Officer for Foreign Trade at the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs; Rolf Gaenz, managing partner at Atlantic GmbH, among others.