By: Syed Mussarat Khalil
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened the 15th Meeting of the OIC Steering Committee on Health (SCH) on 11 September 2025 at its General Secretariat in Jeddah. The meeting was chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and brought together Member States, OIC institutions, and international partners.
This gathering served as a key preparatory step for the upcoming 8th Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM), scheduled to take place in Amman, Jordan, on 7–8 October 2025.
OIC Reaffirms Commitment to Health Agenda
In his opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology, welcomed participants and praised their commitment to advancing the OIC’s health agenda.
He highlighted that despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, meaningful progress had been made under the OIC Strategic Health Programme of Action (SHPA 2014–2023). He also reaffirmed the OIC General Secretariat’s full support to ensure the success of the SCH meeting and the forthcoming 8th ICHM.
Jordan’s Leadership in Advancing Health Cooperation
The Chair of the meeting, H.E. Eng. Huda Ababneh, Director of Projects Management, Planning, and International Cooperation at the Jordanian Ministry of Health, welcomed Member States, OIC institutions, and partners.
She expressed appreciation for the dedication of the Lead Country Coordinators Group (LCCG) in implementing the SHPA. She stressed that the deliberations reflect the OIC’s spirit of solidarity and cooperation in safeguarding public health.
“Health is not only a fundamental human right but also the foundation for building prosperous, sustainable, and resilient societies,” she emphasized.
Key Outcomes and Next Steps
The 15th SCH meeting provided a platform to review progress, share experiences, and coordinate joint action ahead of the 8th ICHM.
Key agenda items included:
- Assessing the implementation of the OIC SHPA 2014–2023 and follow-up actions.
- Aligning Member States’ health priorities with global health agendas.
- Strengthening collaborative mechanisms to address emerging health challenges.
The outcomes of this meeting will directly inform the discussions and resolutions of the 8th Islamic Conference of Health Ministers in Amman, which aims to set new strategic directions for health cooperation among OIC Member States.
