Health Minister Leads Delegation at WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee Meeting

Health Minister Leads Delegation at WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee Meeting

An Iranian delegation, led by Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarqandi, is currently participating in the Seventy-second session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC72). This important event is taking place in Cairo, Egypt, from October 15 to 17, and aims to address critical health priorities and long-term reforms within the region.

Hosted by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, RC72 gathers health ministers, policy-makers, and regional leaders to tackle pressing health issues. The agenda covers a range of topics, including:

  • Polio eradication
  • Health emergencies
  • Immunization programs
  • Palliative care
  • Climate change
  • Impacts of sanctions on public health

During the conference, Zafarqandi is scheduled to meet with key figures such as Hanan Balkhy, the WHO director for the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO), along with other counterparts from the region. This year’s RC72 convenes amidst unprecedented global challenges, including conflicts, humanitarian crises, and climate change, which are exerting immense pressure on health systems across various nations.

RC72 serves as a vital platform for member countries to deliberate and adopt resolutions addressing some of the most urgent health topics in the region. This year, five significant technical papers will be presented, urging Member States to commit to:

  1. Halving the number of zero-dose children—those who have never received a vaccine—by 2030, along with the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome.
  2. Integrating palliative care into national health systems. Millions, including cancer patients, children with congenital conditions, and refugees with chronic illnesses, suffer and die in avoidable pain.
  3. Addressing health-system recovery in crisis-affected countries such as Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territory, Sudan, and Yemen. This resolution aims to ensure that humanitarian responses align with early investments in rebuilding health systems, restoring trust, and enhancing future resilience.
  4. Reviewing laboratory safety and governance, an area that has often been overlooked in regional health security discussions.
  5. Developing a climate-resilient health framework. Building on the Global Plan of Action on Climate Change and Health adopted at the World Health Assembly earlier this year, WHO EMRO is proposing a consultative process to formulate a regional operational framework on climate and health.

Additionally, ministers will review a series of progress reports concerning priority health issues, engage in discussions about governance matters, and consider endorsing a call to action on breast cancer, which remains the leading cancer among women in the region.

During a meeting on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), Balkhi commended Iran’s role as a regional leader in expanding its healthcare system and ensuring access to universal health coverage (UHC). She praised the country for its remarkable achievements in recent years, including:

  • Expanding primary health care services
  • Increasing access to health coverage in rural areas
  • Maintaining high vaccination rates
  • Reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates

According to the health ministry’s website, these accomplishments have positioned Iran as a successful role model for other countries in the region.

Furthermore, WHO EMRO is collaborating closely with Iranian regulatory institutions to achieve a regulatory maturity level 3 in the pharmaceutical regulatory system. This initiative aims to facilitate broader exports of Iranian health-oriented products to global markets, contributing to the enhancement of global health security, as highlighted by Balkhi.

The discussions and resolutions stemming from RC72 are expected to pave the way for improved health outcomes across the Eastern Mediterranean region. As health challenges continue to evolve, the collaborative efforts of member states and organizations like the WHO will be crucial in fostering a healthier future for all.

Similar Posts

  • Key Highlights from the Iran-E3 Meeting in New York: What You Need to Know!

    Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met with counterparts from the UK, Germany, and France during the UN General Assembly to address the Iranian nuclear issue amidst rising tensions. The discussions focused on solutions to prevent further escalation, following recent conflicts involving Israel and the US. Araghchi condemned military aggression against Iran and highlighted a recent agreement with the IAEA to enhance nuclear cooperation. Key aspects include IAEA access to all Iranian nuclear facilities and the importance of ongoing diplomacy to prevent UN sanctions. This meeting underscores the delicate balance of diplomacy and military tensions in the region, with the international community closely watching developments.

  • Iranian Doctor Wins 2024 Kuwait Prize for Breakthrough in Non-Communicable Disease Control

    Iranian professor Majid Ghayour Mobarhan from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences has received the State of Kuwait Prize for the Control of Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes, awarded by the WHO. He was recognized for his significant study, ‘Predicting Cardiovascular Disease in the MASHAD Cohort Study,’ which enhances early identification of cardiovascular risk factors. Mobarhan, also the founder of a UNESCO health center, could not attend the ceremony in Cairo due to visa delays. This award highlights a trend of increasing international recognition for Iranian researchers, with a notable rise in their global citation metrics.

  • This article will be expanded soon. This article will be expanded soon. This article will be expanded soon. This article will be expanded soon. This article will be expanded soon. This article will be expanded soon. This article will be expanded with more detailed information shortly. This article will be expanded with more detailed information…

  • Bright Smiles Ahead: Exciting Oral and Dental Health Campaign Launches in Elementary Schools!

    The Iranian health ministry has initiated a week-long national oral and dental campaign targeting elementary school students to promote oral hygiene and dental health. Collaborating with various organizations, the campaign emphasizes proper brushing, flossing, and healthy eating habits while encouraging regular dental check-ups. Centered around the theme “Don’t forget two times two, brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day,” it includes interactive workshops and educational games. Parents are urged to reinforce these messages at home. This initiative aims to instill lifelong oral care habits in children, significantly impacting their overall health and well-being.

  • Unlawful Fees in Iran’s Public Schools: Millions of Children Denied Access to Education

    In Iran, despite constitutional guarantees for free education, parents are forced to pay bribes for their children’s enrollment, revealing a troubling reality of corruption in the educational system. Many express frustration over illegal fees, with some parents coerced into paying up to 20 million tomans for a public school spot. This has resulted in a class-based education system where wealthy families access better resources, while poorer families struggle with underfunded public schools. As millions of children, particularly from marginalized regions, remain out of school, the government’s failure to uphold educational rights deepens inequality, threatening future opportunities for an entire generation.

  • Iran Joins BRICS: Engaging in Key Environmental Working Group Meetings

    Shina Ansari, head of Iran’s Department of Environment, is representing Iran at the 11th BRICS Environment Working Group (EWG) meetings in Brazil, focusing on “Advancing Environmental Cooperation.” Established in 2015, the EWG aims to address key environmental challenges among BRICS nations through dialogue and best practices. The group prioritizes air quality, water resources, biodiversity, climate change, and waste management under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018. The 2023–2027 Plan of Implementation aims to enhance cooperation. Ansari’s visit also included exploring local environmental projects, highlighting the role of indigenous communities in sustainability. The EWG’s efforts underline the importance of international collaboration for sustainable development.