Ammon News - The eighth session of the Conference of Health Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened Wednesday in Amman.

Ministers and senior officials from member states, and representatives of regional and international health organizations, attended the event.

The conference follows a preparatory meeting held Tuesday to review final arrangements, while discussions cover shared health issues, reports from member states and OIC institutions, and nominations for the Health Steering Committee.

Jordan assumed the presidency from the UAE, which chaired the previous session in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Deputizing for the Prime Minister, Minister of Health Dr. Ibrahim Badour, said the conference comes at a "critical time amid growing health, environmental, and humanitarian challenges."

Badour emphasized collective action under the theme: "Health is Our Shared Responsibility," highlighting Jordan’s support for the Gaza Strip, in line with His Majesty King Abdullah II's directives, including relief convoys, medical treatment, and the Jordanian field hospital.

Badour affirmed Jordan’s "commitment" to supporting coordination and exchange of expertise among member states, praising the efforts of the OIC General Secretariat and the organizing bodies in making the conference a success.

Badour noted that hosting the conference reflects Jordan’s position in medical and wellness tourism and its "distinguished" medical reputation regionally and internationally.

In turn, Dr. Daoud Hanania, Cardiac Surgery, said the event is a key platform for exchanging expertise and strengthening health systems in OIC countries. He praised the humanitarian vision of the late King Hussein and the ongoing support of King Abdullah II for medical excellence and health sector development in Jordan.

Activities also featured a dialogue on "Enhancing Immunity and Equity in Health Systems to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in OIC Countries," and a session on medical tourism in Jordan scheduled for Thursday.

The conference hosts 56 delegations, led by health ministers, or their representatives.