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11:00 GMT
KUWAIT, Oct 4 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Al-Budaiwi said Saturday pioneering health achievements have promoted the bloc as an integrated system capable of translating the leaders' vision into concrete reality.
Addressing the 11th meeting of GCC Health Ministers' Committee, held in Kuwait on Saturday, Al-Budaiwi said the Gulf health system has achieved quantum leaps in developing and boosting its ability to prevent and fight diseases, and improving medical services as well as training medical teams.
He added that the GCC member states are taking steady steps towards pan-Gulf integration by means of unifying health criteria and protocols and building strategic partnerships with international organizations.
The GCC chief pointed out existing cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) over the adoption of the WHO's Health Cities Program, which is meant to promote health and welfare in sustainable and society-friendly Gulf cities.
He added that Gulf leaders believe that health marks the core pillar of sustainable development and significant human investment, citing over 204,000 Gulf citizens' benefitting from government medical services outside their own countries in 2023 as proof of pan-Gulf integration.
He also boasted that the number of hospitals has jumped to more than 863, an annual growth rate of 1.5 percent, and that of health centers and complexes to over 3,400, up 2.5 percent per annum. (pickup previous)
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