WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy concluded a successful official visit to Qatar aimed at strengthening collaboration on key health priorities, including health emergencies, climate change, humanitarian response, health workforce development and substance use.

The visit marked a significant step in WHO’s deepening partnership with Qatar. In meetings with senior Qatari officials discussions ranged from advancing humanitarian health initiatives and supporting vulnerable populations to reinforcing Qatar’s leadership in global health security.

Dr Balkhy’s meeting with Minister of Public Health H.E. Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud focused on reinforcing strategic cooperation on the implementation of Qatar’s National Development Strategy 3 (NDS3) and National Health Strategy 3 (NHS3). Their discussions also explored WHO-Qatari collaboration on expanding equitable access to medical products, one of Dr Balkhy’s 3 flagship initiatives, and highlighted Qatar’s leadership role within WHO.