Deputy Minister of Health: Kuwait is keen to continue its active role in supporting the progress of Gulf health cooperation and integration
Deputy Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah chaired the delegation of the State of Kuwait participating in the annual preparatory meeting of the Deputy Ministers of Health of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The meeting was held via video conference in preparation for the 12th Meeting of the Ministers of Health of the GCC countries, scheduled to take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain on Sunday, the 6th of the current month.
The Kuwaiti delegation included Assistant Undersecretary for External Health Services Dr. Hisham Kalander and Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Dr. Al-Munther Al-Hasawi, alongside the deputy ministers of health from member states and representatives of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The meeting discussed several priority health files and joint work tracks, including the strategic stockpile of medicines and medical supplies, the GCC Health Excellence Award, screening of expatriate workers, and health insurance. It also reviewed the implementation of previous decisions and recommendations and discussed several proposals to be submitted to the upcoming ministerial meeting.
Furthermore, the meeting reviewed a number of draft decisions and recommendations related to the development of joint GCC health work. Kuwait actively contributed to drafting several of these, including those concerning the identification of health cooperation areas with the European Union, in alignment with the tracks and priorities of joint health work among the GCC countries.
The meeting addressed the follow-up on the implementation of the Action Plan of the Ministers of Health of the GCC countries for the period 2026–2030, which was launched during the 11th Ministerial Meeting hosted by Kuwait in 2025. This supports the sustainability of coordination in joint health programs and initiatives and keeps pace with health priorities and challenges.
Topics on the agenda included the application of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in the health sector, reflecting the shared GCC interest in keeping pace with technological developments and leveraging them to enhance the efficiency and quality of health services while ensuring patient safety and relevant professional and regulatory frameworks.
Deputy Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah emphasized that joint GCC health work is based on a comprehensive vision centered on coordinating efforts, exchanging expertise, and building on achieved accomplishments, thereby enhancing the readiness and sustainability of health systems in the GCC countries.
He noted that preparatory meetings serve as an important milestone for aligning viewpoints and crystallizing common priorities before presenting them to the ministers of health. He reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to continuing its active role in supporting the trajectory of GCC health cooperation and integration, in service of the aspirations of the GCC countries and their peoples.
The meeting is part of the preparations for the 12th Meeting of Their Excellencies and Highnesses the Ministers of Health of the GCC countries, scheduled to be held in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, and continues efforts aimed at enhancing integration, exchanging expertise, and developing the joint GCC health work system.
