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GCC Ministers of Health Board held their 70th Conference last Thursday morning in Al Doha- Qatar. H.E. Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Health and Secretary General of the SCH, started the opening session by communicating his greetings and thanks to the Crown Prince of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and the Vice President of the Council, Sheikh Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned.
H.E Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Qahtani stressed on the Importance of such conference in order to develop health systems and researches and provide high quality of health services, where such conference reflects the GCC leader's commitment to make health issues a priority and provide all means to achieve such goal.
H.E pointed out that such conference also reflects the GCC Health Ministers dedication to discuss the faced health issues in the GCC countries, since it is considered a great opportunity to exchange experiences and consulting to reach the best resolutions, set suitable strategic plans and invest scientific researches and studies outcomes; In addition of following the current global health development in all health areas, and unifying health concepts among such countries.
Moreover, H.E clarified that the listed issues on the conference agenda reflects the Ministers' of Health vision towards health issues and serious diseases which threatens citizens' health and negatively affects the human resources and economic growth of the concerned countries. In addition, the conference reviewed the approved plans and programs in regard of combating diseases, cancer, poliomyelitis, malaria and organ transplants, as well as other related topics such as unifying medicine purchasing rules and regulations among GCC countries aside from rregistration, licensing and equipping health sectors.
Furthermore, he noted that organ transplant was chosen as a title for the conference since it is considered the best solution for many diseases related to vital organs failure.
Later on, Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, UAE Minister of Health, made a welcoming speech and stressed on the importance to continue the cooperation among GCC countries and regional and global health organizations, such as World Health Organization and Unicef, in order to update the provided health service quality and combating contagious and chronic diseases by setting suitable strategic plans especially to the probably most affected segments.
H.E Mr. Abdurrahman AL Atiyah delivered a speech in which he emphasized on the need to enhance public health and provide a comprehensive health care to guarantee a healthy future generation.
In addition, Director General- GCC Health Ministers' Council, Dr. Tawfik Ahmed Khoja, communicated his greetings and thanks to Prince of Qatar- Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifah Al Thani, Crown Prince of Qatar- Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Prime Minister of Qatar- Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Bin Muhammad Al Thani, for hosting this Gulf Forum as well as their great welcoming.
Dr. Khoja added that this program aims to upgrade organs transplantation in GCC countries using advanced techniques, exchange health services and overcome the faced obstacles and issues since such program highlights the GCC outstanding achievements and considered the most powerful transplantation programs in many countries. He also pointed out AL Doha's such program, approved by the Vice President of the Council- Sheikh Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, is referred as a significant approach to organs donation.
Dr. Khoja clarified that the biggest challenge facing our health systems is in the following:
1. Providing high quality health services and ensuring safety continuously.
2. Adopting public health concepts within society health care in terms of primary health care concepts and family medicine.
3. Inactivating health plans and strategies.
4. Using information technology within the health system.
5. Adopting effective health systems to reduce cost and increase service beneficiaries satisfaction, such as extended home health care, one day surgeries, …etc
In addition, Dr. Mansour Bin Naser Al Hawasi, Head of the Saudi Delegation, stated that the GCC Ministers of Health Council is convened annually to stress on the significant cooperation among GCC countries in order to achieve the ultimate health cooperation.
He also pointed out that the main topic for this year conference is organs transplantation, where the Kingdom has presented a work in regard of its high experience in such field, in addition of a number of issues related to health services and cooperation among GCC countries.
Finally, Qatar and UAE Ministers of Health concluded the conference by honoring the Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council, former Minister of Health of Oman and former members of Executive Directorate, Dr. Taha Melibari and Dr. Khalid Hussein- KSA.