Health Minister opens 62nd Session of Executive Office of Arab Health Ministers Council

alhadath – cairo

The Ministry of Health and Population announced the unanimous re-election of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, as Chairman of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Health Ministers—for the fourth consecutive term. The announcement came during the 62nd session of the Council, held in Geneva, Switzerland, in parallel with the 78th World Health Assembly.

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar’s reappointment was recognized as a testament to the progress Egypt has made across various healthcare domains. These achievements have been driven by the steadfast support and continuous oversight of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, alongside the impactful contributions of national public health initiatives.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar expressed gratitude to Dr. Saleh Mahdi Al-Hasnawi, Minister of Health of the Republic of Iraq and President of the current session, as well as to Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector, and the Council members, for their renewed confidence in his leadership.

 He voiced optimism about the session’s agenda, which builds on previous initiatives to enhance Arab health systems and strengthen both social and health security across the region.

Key discussion points include urgent humanitarian concerns, notably the deteriorating health conditions in the Palestinian territories—especially Gaza—due to the destruction of healthcare infrastructure.

In this context, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar underscored the need for coordinated medical and humanitarian support for Palestinians, as well as for the people of Sudan, the Comoros (following the recent cyclone), and Somalia, to help stabilize their healthcare systems.

The Minister, also, highlighted other key topics on the agenda, such as the “Arab Doctor Award”, which is one of the most important initiatives encouraging excellence in various vital health fields across the Arab world. Additionally, he discussed the topic of medical and therapeutic tourism, stressing the need to develop a comprehensive Arab strategy to promote medical tourism across different Arab countries.

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the roles of key institutions under the Council’s umbrella, including the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services and the Arab Committee for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response. He praised recent progress on launching the Arab Drug Agency, which is expected to serve as a central hub for pharmaceutical policy coordination and research in the Arab world, enhancing the region’s pharmaceutical and health security.

Another major initiative presented was Egypt’s proposal for the Arab Guiding Strategy for Health Economics, designed to help countries prioritize health needs and allocate resources effectively. The strategy also includes frameworks for combating drug abuse and coordinating with stakeholders on mental health and substance control.

In addition, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar endorsed Jordan’s proposal for a “Visiting Physician Mechanism”, facilitating cross-border training and capacity-building in critical fields such as emergency response, intensive care, and urgent medical services—skills increasingly needed in the face of regional crises.

He concluded his speech by thanking the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, led by Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, for their continued support and for helping to ensure the success of the Council’s current session.