Their Excellencies the GCC Ministers of Health held, on Wednesday, their 37th meeting on the sidelines of the 65th session of the WHO General Assembly currently held in Geneva. The Saudi delegation was headed by His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah. It was attended, also, by the Saudi Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva, Dr. Abdulwahhab bin Abdulsalam Attar.
The meeting discussed a number of the issues on the agenda, and a number of resolutions have been taken, including stressing the GCC countries' commitment to fighting non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially diabetes, guided by the GCC Plan to Combat NCDs. Participants, also, underscored the importance of participating vigorously in the Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Non-Communicable Diseases to be held in Shawwal 1433H under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Moreover, they adopted the recommendations and of the WHO Patient Safety, and developed a roadmap for implementation and follow-up. That's to be added to promoting patient safety at all primary healthcare facilities.
Participants in the meeting, furthermore, placed particular emphasis on the importance of cooperation and coordination among all developmental sectors seeking to eradicate malaria and finance the second phase of the plan meant to make the Arab Peninsula completely free from malaria. They also approved the commitment of all member states to deal with the citizens of all GCC countries in an equitable manner; in the sense that any citizen enjoy the same services provided governmental centers and hospitals in a GCC country as the citizens of this country. Besides, a budget was allocated to the implementation and development of electronic connectivity programs for GCC expats, and embarking on the implementation of the second phase of the Electronic Connectivity System. That's to be added to encouraging the member states to strengthen the epidemiological surveillance system of measles and rubella, in accordance with the guidelines provided by the WHO, and introducing the epidemiological electronic program to this system. In addition, participants approved the regulation of pricing unit of the registered drugs, prepared by the drug pricing team.