The Director-General of the Executive Board of the GCC Health Ministers Council, Dr. Tawfiq bin Ahmad Khojah, said that the agenda of the 82nd meeting of the Executive Board will discuss a number of topics such as: the fight against non-communicable diseases, health indicators, migrant workers (expats), and others.
Addressing the opening of the activities of the 82nd regular meeting of the Executive Board in Riyadh, which lasts for two days, Dr. Khojah added that the meeting will discuss the electronic link between the information centers in the GCC countries and the Executive Board, as well as ways of developing the health information systems, improving work at the Executive Board and reviewing the Board’s budget for 2014 and proposed budgets for 2016-2018.
“The agenda of the meeting,” said Dr. Khojah, “includes also discussing the depository credit fund, research and the financial position of the fund up to date.” Moreover the Board will discuss the share of the Arab Republic of Yemen in the Board's budget, infection control, health quality and patients' safety, mental health, the fight against smoking, occupational health, and a proposal to establish a Gulf committee to develop the performance of health systems, care for the elderly, nursing care, school health and the health of young people, oral and dental health and primary health care.
He added that among the topics which will be tackled during the meeting are programs’ priorities in the next period, smart cards, the issue of unified procurement and pharmaceuticals bids, supplies of hospitals equipment, supplies of artificial kidney centers, supplies of oral and dental care centers, supplies of medical laboratories and blood transfusion services, and supplies of cardiovascular surgery and interventional radiology. “Preparations for the 79th Conference scheduled to be held in Geneva next month, Allah willing, will be probed as well.”
Dr. Khojah, on behalf of himself and members of the Executive Board, praised the wise and brave decision by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah protect him, to launch and end the "Operation Decisive Storm", which was effectively and efficiently led by Saudi Arabia and other coalition states, confirming that the history of Yemen and Arab nations will record with a golden ink such a decisive stand which restored hope to the Yemeni people.
“The Operation Decisive Storm,” he said, “has thankfully achieved its objectives to begin the stage of reconstruction and restoring hope, security and stability to the beloved people of Yemen away from the foreign domination and interference aiming at invoking sectarian sedition. “The Operation Decisive Strom was necessary to achieve the Yemeni people’s hopes and aspirations and restore the natural role of Yemen in the Arab arena, Allah willing.”