Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi said the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries view disease prevention and mental health promotion as key investments in human capital, vital for sustainable development.

Speaking on behalf of the GCC at the fourth high-level UN General Assembly meeting on non-communicable diseases, he emphasized that proactive healthcare strategies strengthen both individual well-being and national progress.

Al-Awadhi highlighted that GCC governments allocated an average of 4.5 percent of GDP to healthcare last year, reflecting strong financial commitment. He noted the establishment of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control in 2022 as a comprehensive regional framework for governance, prevention, and monitoring of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.