GCC Health Ministers to Discuss Digital Health and Drug Strategy in Kuwait
The 11th Gulf Health Ministers' Meeting is set to take place in Kuwait this Saturday. The event, hosted by Kuwait to reflect its commitment to joint Gulf health initiatives, comes as GCC countries celebrate significant achievements in healthcare. With over 863 hospitals and over 3,400 health centers and complexes, the GCC's health system has seen remarkable qualitative development, surpassing regional and global averages in health indicators.
By October last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) had accredited 44 healthy cities, 35 healthy villages, and 12 healthy universities across the GCC member countries - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. These accomplishments contribute to human development by increasing life expectancy, reducing mortality, and enhancing societal productivity.
The upcoming meeting will discuss several key initiatives. These include establishing the Gulf Health Committee for Innovation and Digital Transformation, and reviewing the Gulf Strategy for Combating Drugs (2025-2028) and the Healthy Cities Program. Additionally, the ministers will discuss a unified work plan for the Committee of Health Ministers for the period 2026-2030.
Approximately 594,000 GCC citizens currently benefit from medical services abroad, highlighting the importance of continuous improvement in the region's healthcare systems. The 11th Gulf Health Ministers' Meeting in Kuwait aims to build on the GCC's impressive healthcare achievements and further enhance the health and well-being of its citizens.
