Cairo: The State of Qatar took part in the 17th meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee for the Council of Arab Health Ministers, setting the stage for the 63rd regular session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and its Executive Office, scheduled for December 17-18. Leading Qatar's delegation was Ali Hussein Al Jarhab, First Secretary at the Permanent Delegation of Qatar to the League of Arab States.
According to Qatar News Agency, the meeting's agenda covered a range of significant health topics. Key among these was support for the health sector in the State of Palestine and showcasing successful and pioneering health initiatives by Arab member states. The discussions also focused on developments in Arab strategies aimed at leveraging the expertise of migrant Arab health professionals to bolster the region's health sectors from 2026 to 2030. Additionally, the committee looked into advancing primary health care and family medicine over the same period and providing public health services amid asylum and displacement challenges in the Arab region.
The meeting reviewed reports from various bodies under the Council of Arab Ministers of Health, including the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services, the Arab Board of Health Specializations, and the Arab Center for Authorship and Translation of Health Science. It also considered the Arab League Summit's resolution on investing in health human resources and the Economic and Social Council's resolution on promoting family planning rights in Arab countries, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to declining fertility rates.
Further, the meeting addressed the unified statement of the Council of Arab Health Ministers for the 79th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2026, to be presented by the Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Other topics discussed included the first Arab Ministerial Forum for Health and Environment, the establishment of a regional Arab center for applied epidemiology, disaster risk reduction coordination, and unifying efforts to combat drugs. Financial matters related to the Arab Health Development Fund were also on the agenda.
The committee plans to submit its recommendations on these topics to the Executive Office, and subsequently to the 63rd regular session of the Health Ministers' Council, where necessary decisions will be made.