The first meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Region Health Financing Taskforce convened virtually on Sunday, 3 May 2026. Co-chaired by Egypt and Oman, the Taskforce includes representative from ministries of health and finance from across the Region.

Established by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the taskforce aims to support countries advance health financing for stronger financial protection, explained WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy.

Providing a platform for enhanced collaboration with health partners and experts from the Region and beyond, the Taskforce builds on recommendations from the Ministerial Roundtable held during the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2025 under the theme “Reimagining WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: stewardship, strategy and sustainability at a time of financial transition”.