Doha, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), participated in the tenth meeting of the Ministers of Health of the GCC member states, held in Qatar.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health of Qatar who is also the president of the current session, and was attended by the Ministers of Health of the member states.
Albudaiwi affirmed that the leaders of the member states firmly believe that the health sector is essential for achieving healthy community development.
“In 2022, the number of hospital beds in the GCC exceeded 121,000, with more than 224,000 doctors registered during the same period. Additionally, the number of pharmacists in the GCC surpassed 69,000, and over 400,000 Gulf citizens benefited from government medical services in other GCC countries during 2023,” he added.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary General expressed his appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar and Pre
sident of the current session of the GCC Supreme Council, for hosting the tenth meeting of the Ministers of Health of the GCC member states.
He acknowledged the facilities and support provided by Qatar to ensure the success of the GCC’s endeavors and the ongoing support and interest from His Highness and Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the member states.
Albudaiwi pointed out during his speech that the directives of the leaders of the member states, always focused on the diligent and continuous efforts to advance the GCC’s mission and benefit from the achievements made for the service of the member states and their peoples.
“This aims to enhance coordination, integration, and connection among the member states,” he said.
“Among the most notable indicators are the increases in the number of medical doctors, hospital beds, pharmaceutical products, and standardised specifications for the health sector,” Albudaiwi added.
The Secretary General also emphasised that the efforts of the member state
s in this sector are a fundamental element among many factors that have earned the GCC this esteemed regional and international status, making it a focal point for many countries and regional organisations seeking to engage in strategic partnerships.
During the meeting, the Ministers of Health of the GCC member states discussed several important topics that require decisions to enhance the achievements of joint Gulf work in the health sector.
This includes continuing the joint efforts to monitor expatriate labour and achieving the noble goals of the GCC to unify classification and registration procedures for health specialties.
They also addressed the implementation of international health regulations and the standardisation of health procedures at border crossings among member states to strengthen the GCC’s capacity for comprehensive pandemic response and preparedness.
Furthermore, they emphasised raising awareness among citizens of the member states through health-promoting cities and shopping centres,
based on a strong belief in the importance of health practices that support a conscious Gulf community.
The meeting also covered the continuation of close coordination among the countries in health matters, and the participants reviewed the outputs of the technical committees working in the health sector, along with proposals from the member states for developing and enhancing health services.
Source: Bahrain News Agency