His Excellency the Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development Dr. Muhammad bin Hamza Khoshaim said that the 78th Conference of GCC Health Ministers Council, to be hosted in the Saudi capital city, Riyadh, on 15th-16th Rabei II, 1436H, corresponding to 4th-5th Feburary 2015, will witness ratification of Riyadh Declaration, which focuses on the importance of improving the health services and developing methods to measure them. In this spirit, it will be held under the title: "Measuring Health Systems' Performance: the Way to Excellence". The Conference will discuss a number of subjects, notably the fight against non-communicable diseases, cancer control, anti-smoking, besides tackling the issue of migrant workers (expats), as well as electronic link between the information centers in the GCC countries and the Executive Office, and ways to develop the health information systems. Among the issues to be raised, also, are polio control, unified health procurement, and the central pharmaceutical registration.
In a press statement, on the occasion of the 78th Conference of the GCC Health Ministers Council, Khoshaim added that “the role of the Council, the health arm of the GCC member states, has not fallen behind the aspirations of the rulers, may Allah protect them, to move forward towards enhancing solidarity, coherence and unity between the brothers in the GCC States, as well as building solid bases and foundations for the sake of the Gulf citizen and his health, aiming to achieve the promising objectives which ensure its development in all fields.
Dr. Khoshaim went on saying that the GCC health ministers council's experiences of coordination and cooperation for enhancing the health of the Gulf sons, have gone beyond the regional arena, and presented a unique example at the international health levels, through participation in consultative meetings and partnership with the concerned organizations. In doing so, the council seeks to cope with the latest developments and harness them for the sake of the Gulf citizen, with the aim of achieving a prosperous future for the sons of the member states.
Meanwhile, he lauded the efforts of the GCC Health Ministers Council, and the role played by the Council for serving the Gulf citizen; a matter which has been appreciated and welcomed by the wise Leadership of this country which will welcome, with open hearts, our brothers, the GCC Health Ministers to their annual meeting of this year.
He prayed for the Almighty Allah to crown the Council's efforts with success, and to support it in meeting the aspirations of the rulers, May Allah protect them, towards achieving more successes and accomplishments with the aim of providing the highest levels of health services which are commensurate to the current developments in the world.