Tribune News Network
Doha
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Wednesday concluded a two-day joint workshop with the World Health Organization (WHO) on the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2024-2030.
The workshop included the participation of senior officials from the Ministry of Public Health, other relevant ministries and agencies in Qatar, representatives from the World Health Organization, as well as from the United Nations (UN) and their agencies and partners.
The joint workshop aimed to discuss and reach a consensus on the Country Cooperation Strategy (CSS). During the workshop, health priorities and challenges were identified, and a strategic agenda for cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization was established.
The CSS is a strategic initiative that aims to align the World Health Organization’s work with each member country’s unique requirements. By collaborating with all relevant institutions, the CCS creates a framework that prioritises global and regional health while meeting the specific needs of a country.
Commenting on the workshop, Minister of Public Health Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari said, “Qatar is committed to strengthening its close cooperation with the World Health Organization, especially in ways that contribute to the support of our national policies, strategies and plans. Improving the health and well-being of the Qatari community, aligning with the Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy, our health strategies and our Sustainable Development Goals is a priority.”
Her speech was delivered by Assistant Minister for Health Affairs Dr Salih Ali Al Marri, who added, “The intense and diligent work between specialists and experts in Qatar and the World Health Organization to develop the Country Cooperation Strategy is of great importance, especially in light of the wonderful results achieved when determining the priorities for joint action over the next six years.
“The strategy contributes to expanding cooperation between Qatar and the World Health Organization, broadening our horizons and supporting the achievement of our national priorities and international commitments. This is especially significant as we share the World Health Organization’s goal of ensuring that everyone enjoys the highest attainable standard of health.”
Qatar has an advanced social protection system and has achieved many of its Sustainable Development Goals and objectives in the fields of health, education and social protection.
The country’s Qatar National Vision 2030 is an ambitious vision that aims to “transform Qatar by the year 2030 into an advanced country capable of achieving sustainable development and ensuring a high standard of living for its people for generations to come”.
The vision is built on four pillars: human development, social development, economic development and environmental development.
The preparation for the Country Cooperation Strategy began in 2023 following the establishment of the WHO office in Qatar and involves the participation of officials and experts from the Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization at the global, regional and national levels.
Dr Hanan Hassan Balkhy, regional director of the World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean, expressed her appreciation for the cooperation between the WHO and Qatar and for Qatar’s achievements in the health and development sectors.
She said, “We highly value what Qatar has accomplished for its citizens and its regional and international community, as investment in health and development in Qatar has led to continuous improvements in health patterns and a reduction in mortality rates. We renew our commitment to continuing fruitful and constructive cooperation and strengthening our strategic partnership with Qatar.”
She added, “The Country Cooperation Strategy is a framework through which the World Health Organization and Qatar collaborate to achieve shared goals in health and development. Our primary goal is to establish solid foundations and a strategic basis for planning, as well as to elevate the levels of cooperation with Qatar to strategic dimensions, contributing to its expansion into broader horizons in line with its future [National] vision.”
During the workshop, participants reviewed the various aspects of the Country Cooperation Strategy through work sessions and extensive discussions. They took into account the contributions of all partners and stakeholders in the health and health-related fields, as well as taking into consideration the developments in strategic policies or practices undertaken by the national health sector and other relevant partners.
The workshop aimed to achieve several key objectives: a consensus on the strategic priorities for cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization for the six years of the strategy, a review of the components of the Country Cooperation Strategy, a finalisation of its structure, and the establishment of a framework for monitoring and reviewing the cooperation between Qatar and the World Health Organization during the years 2024 to 2030.
The participants successfully agreed on the essential elements of the framework.
At the global level, the CCS is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals and the upcoming Fourteenth General Programme of Work of the WHO. At the national level, it is guided by the national vision and the overall health situation of the country, including the state of the healthcare sector, the social and economic conditions of the population, and the major health determinants.
By identifying priorities and key health challenges, areas of cooperation can be determined for the next six years.
