Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development Eng. Abdulaziz bin Hamad AlRumaih participated, as part of the Kingdom's delegation, in the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He held a number of bilateral meetings with ministers, government officials, and heads of international organizations to discuss strengthening international cooperation in health, exchanging expertise, and enhancing partnerships to address priority global health issues.
He also participated in the second High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR), held last Friday. The meeting aims to renew and strengthen the commitment to multilateral action on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as translate international commitments into practical measures, with a focus on equity, solidarity, national capacity-building, and strengthening the resilience of health systems.
During the meeting, the Kingdom affirmed that global health security is a shared responsibility and that addressing cross-border health threats requires effective international cooperation and sustainable national capacities. The Kingdom highlighted its experience in managing Hajj and mass gatherings, as well as its advanced surveillance, early warning, rapid response, and high-readiness systems.
The Kingdom also reaffirmed its commitment to applying the Health in All Policies and One Health approaches, strengthening local and regional manufacturing capabilities, and supporting the sustainability of medical supply chains. It also welcomed the adoption of the text of the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations.
His participation also included a number of high-level meetings and events addressing global health security, prevention of noncommunicable diseases, vaccination, maternal and child health, strengthening health-system resilience, and investment in prevention, preparedness, and response to health emergencies. The meetings also explored opportunities for cooperation with countries, organizations, and international partners.