SCM Staff Writer I Thursday, October 09, 2025
AMMAN, JORDAN –The 8th Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM), titled “Health is Our Shared Responsibility,” commenced today in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with a unified call for enhanced collaboration to address burgeoning global health crises and strengthen the health sector across Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States.
The two-day conference has convened Ministers of Health, heads of delegations, and representatives from international and OIC institutions for high-level deliberations focused on adopting key resolutions and the forthcoming Amman Declaration. These measures aim to fortify public health infrastructure and policies across the Islamic world.
The opening session featured a ceremonial handover of the ICHM chairmanship. H.E. Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention of the UAE, reflected on the significant achievements made during the UAE’s five-year tenure as the outgoing Chair. He formally passed the mantle to H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Bdour, Minister of Health of Jordan.
In his inaugural address as Chair, Dr. Bdour stressed the critical importance of joint Islamic action within the OIC framework to effectively tackle pressing health sector challenges, signaling a renewed focus on collective responsibility.
The OIC’s commitment to health was firmly reaffirmed by H.E. Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology, who represented OIC Secretary-General H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha. Ambassador Khokher underscored that health is considered a high priority for the OIC, not merely as a basic human right but as a central pillar for prosperity and sustainable development.
The Secretary-General’s statement specifically highlighted the instrumental support from key Member States, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Türkiye, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Indonesia, and the State of Kuwait.
This backing has been crucial for the success of various OIC health initiatives, particularly in Least Developed Member States.
The conference received appreciation from the global health community, including a recorded message from the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), H.E. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who valued the OIC’s partnership in tackling global health sector challenges.
A key high-level panel during the session focused on the core theme of building equitable and resilient health systems for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and bolstering health security. Discussions consistently emphasized the urgent need for sustainable financing and innovation in public health infrastructure to meet future demands.
The ICHM is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, October 9, 2025, with the formal adoption of reports, resolutions, and the pivotal Amman Declaration, which is expected to outline the roadmap for OIC health cooperation in the coming years.
