His Excellency the Omani Health Minister, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid Al Saeedi, revealed that a number of technical topics were discussed during the 40th session of the 78th Conference of the GCC Health Ministers Council, which is now held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the theme: (Measuring Health Systems' Performance: the Way to Excellence).
He noted that the GCC Health Ministers discussed efforts to fight non-communicable diseases, cancer and tobacco use, as well as occupational health, polio, migrant workers and smart cards.
In a press statement, Dr. Al Saeedi pointed out that other technical topics were also tackled during the conference, including standards and regulations of cooperation with GCC health associations, the scientific forum of financial and administrative affairs at the GCC health ministries, the e-link portal between the information centers in the GCC countries and the Executive Board, and ways to develop health information systems.
Dr. Al Saeedi added that among the issues which were discussed are central drug registration, unified purchasing, pharmaceutical products, hospital equipping supplies, supplies of artificial kidney centers, supplies of dental care centers, supplies of medical laboratories and blood transfusion services, supplies of cardiovascular surgery and interventional radiology, supplies of ear, nose, and throat conditions (ENT), ophtalmological supplies, supplies of orthopedic and spine surgery, and supplies of medical rehabilitation.
He noted that the GCC health ministers tackled also the GCC regulation for the continuing professional development and a number of regulatory financial and administrative affairs of the Executive Board of the GCC Health Ministers Council.
Moreover, Dr. Al Saeedi revealed that the meetings touched on non-communicable diseases and risks of obesity and hyperglycemia to the liver, kidney and heart. He said that it is not only the responsibility of the ministries of health to face such diseases, but it is a collective responsibility, shedding the light on the tremendous magnitude of such diseases and their effects on health. "This issue has been a concern for the GCC countries, which became a hotbed for such diseases," he concluded.