The experts committee formed for preparing for the Arabic summit for economic and social development held a meeting recently at the headquarters of the Secretariat General of the Arab League in Cairo under the chairmanship of Dr. Tawfeeq Ahmed Khoja, the Director General of the Executive Office of the Council of the GCC Health Ministers. The meeting reviewed 15 topics, including the basic health care centers developmental plan, implementing the family health model, the Arabic project for combating diabetes, establishment of an Arabic fund for humanitarian relief and assistance, the Arabic project for improving the quality of health facilities, establishment of the Arabic Commission for Health Facilities Accreditation, health economics in the Arabic countries, establishment of a high commission for crises management, the Arabic project for controlling cardiovascular diseases, the Arabic project for adolescents and youth health development, combating malnutrition in the Arabic countries, and unification of the methods of drug registration in the Arabic countries in preparation for establishing the joint Arabic drug market. The meeting approved the submitted projects and assigned Dr. Tawfeeq Ahmed Khoja to provide the summit, which will be held in Kuwait on January 19 and 20, 2009, with the priorities of health care services.
On his part, Dr. Khoja expressed his appreciations towards their highness the kings and presidents of the Arabic countries for confidence bestowed on him. "I thank the Almighty God for the selection which reflects the respectful status enjoyed by the kingdom at the Arabic and international level under the leadership and patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques", he said. "I hope I granted success in undertaking this responsibility for realizing the anticipations of our rulers and people in introducing the new trends in health care provision and coping with the interests and concerns of the World Health Organization and other leading international health organizations".
He said the priorities in health care activities will be devoted towards improving performance, manpower development, enhancing medical and scientific aspects, forming specialized technical committees, boosting the role of primary health care, and creating developmental health programs.