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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of Health Mahmoud Al Shayyab called for strengthening joint efforts, intensifying cooperation among Arab countries to develop medical systems in the region and protect public health, a statement by the ministry said Saturday.

Addressing the 49th meeting of the Council of Arab Health Ministers started in Cairo on Thursday, Al-Shyyab said that health systems are the most sensitive and affected by such conditions that lead to the spread of diseases and epidemics that will be difficult to control.

"The current session is being held in critical time in which Arab peoples suffer from crises that cast a heavy shadow on the economic, social and health aspects of the neighboring countries," he said, stressing the need for efforts to confront the repercussions of these circumstances on Arab countries.

On the sidelines of the meeting, ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Dr. Al-Shyab delivered a speech which opened the session and met on the sidelines of a number of Arab health ministers and discussed with them the promotion of cooperation and coordination in all health fields.

"Agenda of this session reinforces this trend in many issues, mainly Arab pharmaceutical integration, including the women's and adolescents and children health, early detection of certain cancers, supporting laws banning smoking, as well as measures related to mental health and addiction, the minister added." The minister's address also touched on challenges facing Arab countries in dealing with different diseases in the region, including cancer, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, the spread of obesity, nutritional patterns, unhealthy behaviors, the spread of tobacco and drugs, lack of specialized and trained human resources and high costs of modern technology, medicines and treatments.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Al Shayyab discussed with a number of Arab health ministers means of boosting cooperation and coordination in healthcare domain.