The MOH Assistant Undersecretary for Preventive Medicine Dr. Khalid Al-Zahrani opened today Wednesday 01/04/1428H, at Riyadh Palace Hotel, in presence of WHO representative Dr. Awad Abu Zaid, a symposium titled "International Health Regulations 2005: Features and Application Requirements".
MOH Official Speaker Dr. Khalid Al-Marghalani said the symposium is composed of four sessions, including a lecture on the "International Health Regulations 2005: Definition and Features", provided by MOH Director General of Parasitic and Infectious Diseases Dr. Nasser Al-Huzaim. A second session shall deal with the "General Health Emergencies that stir international concern", by Dr. Sameer Atlam. Dr. Mohammed Marzooq shall offer a lecture in the third session on the International Health Regulations 2005: Application and Main Change Features. Lastly a fourth session shall include an open discussion on the problems involved in applying the Health Regulations 2005.
Dr. Al-Marghalani said the purpose behind applying the resolutions is to prevent dissemination of local diseases on international scales and confronting them by taking certain measures within the field of general health without unnecessary interfering with international traffic or trade.
He said the regulations are based on human rights principles and must be applied comprehensively in light with the requirements of the Charter of the United Nations and WHO constitution for protecting the population of our planet, taking into consideration that each country shall have its sovereign right to formulate and apply its own regulations in accordance with its health policy.