Private Hospitals Association Chairman Fawzi Hammouri on Saturday called for closer cooperation between Jordanian and Syrian private hospitals and leveraging Jordan's leading experience in the sector.

Hammouri was part of a Jordanian delegation, headed by Minister of Health Ibrahim Badour, which was on a visit to Syria on Thursday aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the health sector.

The visit addressed key issues, including benefiting from Jordan's experience in investing in the health sector and the pharmaceutical industry, training and development, and the exchange of expertise, the association said in a press release.

He said the meetings included discussions on prospects for cooperation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality assurance, and drug registration procedures, as well as hospital management, the development of medical services, and training and development programs for healthcare personnel.

Private hospitals in Jordan account for more than 60 percent of Jordanian hospitals, offering direct employment for more than 40,000 Jordanians, in addition to supporting the national economy and attracting Arab and foreign patients, said Hammouri.

He noted that Syria is in an important reconstruction phase, particularly the rehabilitation of the health sector, which requires an effective partnership between the public and private sectors.

He cited such areas of cooperation as receiving patients who needed treatment outside Syria, training medical and administrative staff, exchanging expertise, and benefiting from Jordan's expertise in hospital management, while also exploring opportunities for managing hospitals in Syria and implementing quality standards and health accreditation.