7th SCO Health Ministers Meeting

On 14 March 2024, Astana hosted the 7th SCO Health Ministers Meeting.

Chaired by Kazakhstani Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova, the meeting saw an exchange of views on how to develop healthcare systems in the SCO countries, on the role played by international organisations in this area, on building the potential of medical and pharmaceutical personnel, and on prospects for SCO cooperation in medicine, pharmacology, and health protection.

SCO Deputy Secretary-General Nuran Niyazaliyev addressed the meeting on behalf of the SCO Secretariat to advise the participants on the main trends in health cooperation between the SCO member states. He stressed that all countries in the region were in favour of further expanding the cooperation and intensifying practical collaboration in this area based on the Shanghai Spirit.

A guest of honour, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge, delivered remarks on the effective coordination of healthcare-related efforts by all participants in international relations.

Following the Meeting, the participants approved an Action Plan on Developing Cooperation in Healthcare between the SCO Member States for 2025-2027 and signed a Protocol.