17 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – The Seventy-first session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC71), held under the theme Health Beyond Borders, concluded today in Qatar.
Following 4 days of intense discussions and the exchange of views and experiences between ministers of health and representatives of Member States, partner organizations and WHO experts, RC71 adopted a series of resolutions that aim to translate words into concrete policies and actions.
“I would like to thank Qatar for their generous hospitality and excellent organization,” said Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy.
“I also thank their Excellencies the ministers of health, heads of delegations and delegates for their dedication, wisdom and knowledge. We have enjoyed exceptionally rich and productive discussions throughout the past 4 days. Our meetings were a great opportunity to remind ourselves of what we can do.”
Held from 14 to 17 October 2024, RC71 convened as the Region is facing an unprecedented series of emergencies. The 12-month war in Gaza, conflicts in Lebanon, Sudan and Yemen and prolonged crises in Afghanistan, Somalia and other countries claim precious lives every minute.
Against this disturbing backdrop, the Region was able to make substantial gains, not least in communicable disease control. Gulf countries expanded their healthy cities programmes, Egypt consolidated its position as a world leader in hepatitis C elimination and has gone on to eliminate malaria, Jordan became the first country to eliminate leprosy and Pakistan eliminated trachoma.
Among other standout stories, the Islamic Republic of Iran put family education at the heart of public health efforts, locally produced 96% of its medicine needs and maintained its position as a regional leader in medical research, and Iraq became the first country globally to complete the polio transition process.
Trauma and mental health needs in emergency settings, antimicrobial resistance, immunization and the digitalization of health information systems (HIS) were among the priority health issues addressed in the resolutions adopted by RC71.
The Regional Committee formally endorsed the Strategic Operational Plan submitted by the Regional Director covering the work of the Regional Office for the next 4 years and approved 3 flagship initiatives that will serve as accelerators.
Expressing concern over the frequency of conflicts and natural disasters in the Region and the surge in trauma-related injuries and deaths, as well as the increase in unmet mental health and psychosocial support needs of people affected by emergencies, Regional Committee urged Member States to strengthen community-based trauma response and build capacities at primary health care level for initial management of trauma and rapid referral, and endorsed a regional action plan on mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies.
The Eastern Mediterranean has the highest and fastest rising levels of antibiotic consumption of any WHO region. The Committee endorsed a regional, people-centred collaborative approach to addressing AMR and urged Member States to adopt a One Health approach and involve all relevant stakeholders.
While recognizing that Member States are making sustained efforts to implement digitalized HIS, Regional Committee noted that many countries face ongoing challenges. RC71 endorsed a new regional strategy to further the digitalization process and called on the Regional Director to develop, adapt and share standards for the digitalization of information systems so they fit specific regional contexts.
RC71 also approved the strategic framework for implementation of the Immunization Agenda 2030, the strategic framework for strengthening health laboratory services in the Region 2024–2029, and endorsed the regional strategy to strengthen local vaccine production.
The next session of the Regional Committee will be held in Cairo from 9–13 October 2025.