Kuwait city: Undersecretaries of the Ministries of Health in the GCC convened on Friday for a preparatory meeting ahead of the GCC Health Ministers' 11th Meeting, which Kuwait will host on Saturday. Kuwait's Ministry of Health Undersecretary, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, chaired the session, emphasizing Kuwait's dedication to fostering joint cooperation within the GCC health sector.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Dr. Al-Mutairi outlined the meeting's agenda, highlighting crucial topics like the follow-up on the Supreme Council's resolutions concerning the GCC Anti-Narcotics Strategy (2025-2028). This strategy underscores the importance of safeguarding youth and communities from narcotics. The meeting also prioritized expatriate labor screening to protect public health and enhance preventive policies, alongside discussions on protecting shared health borders.
Dr. Al-Mutairi further mentioned a proposal to establish the GCC Health Committee for Innovation and Digital Transformation under the General Secretariat's umbrella. The committee's goal is to develop unified standards and guidelines for using artificial intelligence in diagnosis, treatment, and health data management.
Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs of the GCC, Khalid Al-Sunaidi, noted the significant development in the GCC health system in recent years. The number of hospitals in the GCC countries now exceeds 863, with an annual growth rate of 1.5 percent. Additionally, over 3,400 health centers have been established, and approximately 594,000 GCC citizens have received government medical services in member states outside their home countries. He expressed appreciation to Kuwait for its hospitality and organization, and to Qatar for its efforts during its presidency of the previous session in promoting joint Gulf health cooperation.