Qatar participated on Thursday in the sixth meeting of the GCC Health Ministers' Committee, and in the 83rd meeting of the Health Ministers of the GCC States via video conferencing. Qatar was represented in both meetings by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari.
The sixth meeting of the GCC Health Ministers' Committee discussed a number of important issues, most notably the General Secretariat reports on the GCC states’ efforts to curb Covid-19, including efforts by the health sector to combat the pandemic, voluntary work during the pandemic, and the General Secretariat’s vision on bolstering joint GCC action in the post-Covid-19 stage.
The meeting also reviewed the GCC Supreme Council’s decisions in the field of health, including the concluding statement, the Riyadh Declaration at the conclusion of the 40th summit of the GCC Supreme Council, the non-tariff restrictions that pertain to the ministries of health in the GCC states, and follow-up of the implementation of the Supreme Council’s decisions in the health field.
The meeting further discussed the Committee's Plan of Action, the follow-up to the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) with respect to the pandemic preparedness and response plans, the Gulf framework for the public health plan for emergency preparedness and response, the general framework for the public health emergency plan at airports of GCC States and the Early Warning System Guideline.
The meeting also reviewed the GCC healthy cities, including the Gulf cities accredited with WHO accreditation as healthy cities, the Healthy Cities Programme of the GCC States, the Strategic Health Cities Programme (2020-2030), the comprehensive vision of the capacity-building of healthy city workers and the Gulf Network of Healthy Cities.
The committee's meetings also reviewed issues of medicines, medical devices and supplies that are exempt from added value tax, promoting physical exercise for all segments of society, and strategic dialogues in the health field.
The 83rd meeting of the GCC health ministers discussed important topics, most notably the Gulf Diseases Prevention and Control Center, and the Health Council Executive Plan 2021, including prevention, awareness, development, health support, operational decisions, as well as administrative and financial affairs.
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