Geneva: Dr. Jalila bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health, participated in the 62nd session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and its Executive Bureau, alongside health ministers from across the Arab world. Chaired by Iraqi Health Minister Saleh Al Hasnawi, the session was marked by Bahrain's election as Vice-Chair of the Council's Executive Bureau, underscoring its active role in fostering regional health collaboration.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Jalila highlighted the importance of collective action among Arab nations to tackle shared health priorities amid ongoing global and regional challenges. She stressed investing in capacity building, enhancing local production of medicines and medical supplies, and decreasing reliance on imports.
Dr. Jalila also reviewed the regional health initiative launched through the "Bahrain Declaration," backed by Arab leaders during the 33rd Arab Summit hosted by Bahrain in May. This initiative seeks to improve healthcare quality and resilience within Arab health systems through partnerships and sustainable strategies.
She further mentioned the 2025 Arab Forum for the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Industries, hosted remotely by Bahrain. The forum brought together regulators, manufacturers, and health organizations, with its recommendations forming an Arab roadmap to advance pharmaceutical production and bolster regional drug security.
Key discussion topics included emergency preparedness, health workforce training, medical tourism, and health economics. The council adopted a unified statement for presentation at the World Health Assembly, outlining Arab health priorities and areas for international cooperation.
The session concluded with resolutions supporting the Bahrain-led initiative, enhancing intra-regional medical tourism, improving blood transfusion services, and promoting the use of health economics in public health planning.