Kuwait city: Kuwait's Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi on Thursday highlighted the GCC vision for disease prevention and enhancing psychological health, emphasizing that protection is "the best investment in human capital on the path of sustainable development." Minister Al-Awadhi spoke on behalf of the GCC states at the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, during the 80th session of the UNGA.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the average health spending in GCC countries reached 4.5 percent of GDP last year. The establishment of the Gulf Center for Disease Protection and Control (Gulf CDC) in 2022 marked a significant regional effort in managing communicable and non-communicable diseases. The GCC states implemented the unified treaty for selective taxes in 2016 to reduce consumption of harmful commodities like tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and sweetened beverages.
The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) had approved systems to decrease consumption of fats and hydrogenated oils, aligning with the GCC's public health improvement strategy, as stated by the Kuwaiti minister. Mental health holds a central position in national strategies across Gulf countries, with plans to secure qualified medical staff and provide integrated psychological care, combating stereotypes.
GCC countries have strengthened their medical systems with specialized centers serving all citizens, especially vulnerable groups. Minister Al-Awadhi highlighted achievements such as the Sheikh Shakhbout medical facility in the UAE, Bahrain's success with sickle cell anemia treatment, and Saudi Arabia's virtual medical services.
Oman established Al-Masarra Hospital for psychological care, and Qatar built Renad Academy for autism treatment among children. Kuwait, through its Genetic Center, provides early diagnosis services to 12,000 families annually.
On behalf of the GCC states, Minister Al-Awadhi praised the political declaration from the meeting, affirming commitment to its content and care for people with rare diseases, estimated globally at 300 million. He urged for medical system changes to address the needs of vulnerable populations and concluded by affirming the GCC states' commitment to enhancing health and welfare in line with UN's 2015 sustainable development goals. He expressed a desire to expand partnerships with stakeholders to uphold human dignity and the right to a dignified life globally.