Saudi Health Ministry has signed contracts worth more than SR4.4 billion ($1.17 billion) since January for key projects including construction of hospitals, supply of pharmaceutical products and biomedical engineering works, said a report.

A 200-bed maternity and children's hospital will be set up at a cost of SR400 million besides another 300-bed hospital in southwest Hail region along with 15 primary health care centers, the Arab News reported, quoting Health Minister Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.

The minister was speaking after announcing SR2 billion worth of health projects in the Hail region in the presence of Governor Prince Saud bin Abdulmuhsin.

In January, Al-Rabeeah had inked deal worth more than SR3 billion with 30 private sector companies for various projects across the Kingdom, the report stated.

These included the construction of hospitals, supply of pharmaceutical products and equipment, biomedical engineering projects, hospital supplies and furnishing of newly built hospitals throughout the Kingdom, the report added.

Aimed at boosting the Kingdom's health care infrastructure, Saudi King Abdullah had allocated SR16 billion budget for the sector.