Egyptian Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar chaired the 65th regular meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Arab Health Ministers Council in Cairo, highlighting the pressing health crises in Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen. Abdel Ghaffar stressed the need for sustained humanitarian, medical, and emergency financial assistance to these countries. Egypt will continue to provide humanitarian and medical aid to Palestinians, while supporting efforts to rebuild the damaged health sectors in Sudan and Yemen.
The meeting reviewed preparations for launching the 2026-2030 strategy to benefit from Arab health professionals working abroad, alongside a multi-sectoral project aimed at improving adolescent health. Ministers also discussed adopting "Health in the Age of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence" as the theme for Arab Health Day in 2027. This move aims to leverage innovation and technology to enhance healthcare services in Arab countries.
Abdel Ghaffar announced that Egypt would be designated a regional centre for training and capacity building in blood transfusion services, following recommendations issued at the 25th meeting of the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services. This designation will enable Egypt to play a key role in enhancing blood transfusion services across the Arab region.
The meeting also considered an Iraqi proposal to establish a regional Arab centre for field epidemiology. Discussions focused on ensuring coordination and avoiding overlapping responsibilities with the Arab Centre for Public Health. Ministers further assessed the technical and administrative structures of the Arab Board of Health Specializations and the Arab Center for Authorship and Translation of Health Sciences in Kuwait.
Abdel Ghaffar called for a unified Arab position at the 80th World Health Assembly, including a common message addressing the humanitarian and health situations in Palestine, Yemen, and Sudan. He emphasized the importance of a collective response to these crises, highlighting the need for Arab countries to present a united front in addressing these pressing health issues.
Egypt presented a proposal to launch an "Arab Day for Humanity Without Burns" and expressed support for a roadmap to establish an Arab Observatory on Drugs. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about critical health issues and promote regional cooperation in addressing them.
Cairo is set to host an Arab conference on the role of expatriate Arab health professionals, as part of broader efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in healthcare. The conference will provide a platform for discussing ways to harness the expertise of Arab health professionals working abroad to improve healthcare services in their home countries.
Key points
- Egypt to provide humanitarian and medical assistance to Palestinians, Sudan, and Yemen
- Arab health ministers to adopt "Health in the Age of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence" as theme for Arab Health Day 2027
- Egypt designated regional centre for training and capacity building in blood transfusion services
Reporting sources
- Egypt calls for urgent health support for Palestine, Sudan and Yemen · Daily News Egypt
