Minister of Health Participates in the 62nd Session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and Its Executive Bureau in Geneva
20/05/2025
Her Excellency Dr. Jalila bint Al-Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health, participated in the 62nd Session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and the Executive Bureau, held in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Health from the member states. The session was chaired by H.E. Mr. Saleh Al-Hasnawi, Minister of Health of the Republic of Iraq.
During the meeting, the Kingdom of Bahrain was elected Vice-Chair of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, reflecting the confidence in Bahrain’s standing and its continuous efforts to advance Arab cooperation in health-related fields.
In her address, H.E. the Minister emphasized the importance of unifying efforts and intensifying coordination among Arab countries in priority health areas, especially in light of current regional and global challenges. She stressed the need to invest in capacity building and enhance self-sufficiency in medicines and medical supplies.
Her Excellency also highlighted the health initiative stemming from the “Bahrain Declaration,” which was endorsed by Arab leaders during the 33rd Arab Summit hosted by Bahrain in May 2024. She reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to implementing this initiative through effective partnerships and sustainable strategies aimed at improving healthcare quality and strengthening the resilience of health systems in Arab countries.
In this context, the Minister referred to the Arab Forum for the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Industry 2025, recently organized by the Kingdom via virtual platform, with wide participation from regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies, and regional and international health organizations. She noted that the forum’s outcomes laid a shared foundation for drafting a clear Arab roadmap for advancing the pharmaceutical and health industries. The forum’s recommendations emphasized the importance of strengthening pharmaceutical security in the Arab world, supporting scientific research and vaccine development through investments in infrastructure and specialized centers, stimulating investment in the pharmaceutical sector including human capital development and knowledge transfer, developing educational programs in collaboration with manufacturers, harmonizing regulatory systems across Arab countries, encouraging policies that support foreign investment, enhancing the stability of supply chains and localization of raw material production, activating mutual recognition between regulatory authorities, and reinforcing public-private partnerships to achieve health integration and sustainable development.
The meeting also addressed several key agenda items concerning joint Arab health action, enhancing coordination among health ministries and national health authorities, intensifying efforts to combat epidemics and health challenges, and advancing cooperation in technology localization and health systems development.
Discussions included the healthcare situation in the State of Palestine, the exchange of successful experiences among member states, and the adoption of a unified statement to be delivered by the Council of Arab Health Ministers before the World Health Assembly, reflecting Arab health priorities and aspirations for greater international collaboration.
Other vital topics covered included the Visiting Doctor Program, training programs for health professionals, medical tourism, health economics, and updates on the work of the Arab Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee.
The meeting concluded with the issuance of a number of resolutions focusing on enhancing Arab health cooperation, particularly the activation of the health initiative stemming from the “Bahrain Declaration,” promoting medical and therapeutic tourism in the Arab region, supporting the Arab Blood Services Authority, and adopting the Arab Guiding Strategy to Strengthen the Use of Health Economics Approaches.
During the meeting, the Kingdom of Bahrain was elected Vice-Chair of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, reflecting the confidence in Bahrain’s standing and its continuous efforts to advance Arab cooperation in health-related fields.
In her address, H.E. the Minister emphasized the importance of unifying efforts and intensifying coordination among Arab countries in priority health areas, especially in light of current regional and global challenges. She stressed the need to invest in capacity building and enhance self-sufficiency in medicines and medical supplies.
Her Excellency also highlighted the health initiative stemming from the “Bahrain Declaration,” which was endorsed by Arab leaders during the 33rd Arab Summit hosted by Bahrain in May 2024. She reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to implementing this initiative through effective partnerships and sustainable strategies aimed at improving healthcare quality and strengthening the resilience of health systems in Arab countries.
In this context, the Minister referred to the Arab Forum for the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Industry 2025, recently organized by the Kingdom via virtual platform, with wide participation from regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies, and regional and international health organizations. She noted that the forum’s outcomes laid a shared foundation for drafting a clear Arab roadmap for advancing the pharmaceutical and health industries. The forum’s recommendations emphasized the importance of strengthening pharmaceutical security in the Arab world, supporting scientific research and vaccine development through investments in infrastructure and specialized centers, stimulating investment in the pharmaceutical sector including human capital development and knowledge transfer, developing educational programs in collaboration with manufacturers, harmonizing regulatory systems across Arab countries, encouraging policies that support foreign investment, enhancing the stability of supply chains and localization of raw material production, activating mutual recognition between regulatory authorities, and reinforcing public-private partnerships to achieve health integration and sustainable development.
The meeting also addressed several key agenda items concerning joint Arab health action, enhancing coordination among health ministries and national health authorities, intensifying efforts to combat epidemics and health challenges, and advancing cooperation in technology localization and health systems development.
Discussions included the healthcare situation in the State of Palestine, the exchange of successful experiences among member states, and the adoption of a unified statement to be delivered by the Council of Arab Health Ministers before the World Health Assembly, reflecting Arab health priorities and aspirations for greater international collaboration.
Other vital topics covered included the Visiting Doctor Program, training programs for health professionals, medical tourism, health economics, and updates on the work of the Arab Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee.
The meeting concluded with the issuance of a number of resolutions focusing on enhancing Arab health cooperation, particularly the activation of the health initiative stemming from the “Bahrain Declaration,” promoting medical and therapeutic tourism in the Arab region, supporting the Arab Blood Services Authority, and adopting the Arab Guiding Strategy to Strengthen the Use of Health Economics Approaches.
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