Tehran – Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarkandi and his Indian and Uzbek counterparts held separate meetings to investigate the possibility of expanding health cooperation.
Authorities met on the sidelines of the health ministry for the eighth time, the Shanghai Cooperation Agency (SCO) in Xi’an, China, on the sidelines of the health ministry, the health ministry website reported.
In a meeting with Punya Salila Srivastava, Indian secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, both emphasized the strengthening of joint efforts, especially in the development of manufactured medicines, vaccines, traditional medicine and medical training.
Zafarqandi praised the achievements in India’s health sector and announced that it is ready to promote cooperation with India in the areas mentioned, and will supply the raw materials for pharmaceuticals in particular.
Emphasizing the capabilities of both countries in traditional medicine thanks to their indigenous teachings, authorities said, “Iran is willing to exchange knowledge and experience with India, not only to conduct joint research on traditional medicine.”
The Minister of Health also proposed to promote cooperation on primary health care.
On her part, Indian officials mentioned earlier signed agreements between the two countries, saying that India is willing to expand cooperation with Iran in various areas of the health sector.
In a meeting with Zafarkandi, Uzbek Minister of Health, Ashirbek Kudayarov, stressed the friendly ties between the two countries and expressed preparations for further cooperation with Uzbekistan’s health sector, particularly Iran in health tourism and cancer treatment. Officials also urged to encourage connections by exchanging professors and graduate students.
Referring to the registration of Iranian drugs transported to Uzbekistan, Kudayarov proposed that Iranian companies manufacture medicines in Uzbekistan to promote the process of drug registration and access to the Western Asian market.
Zafarkandi said Iran is ready to develop relations with Uzbekistan in all areas, including liver transplants, cancer treatment, cell and gene therapy, cardiovascular surgery and health tourism, which paves the way for expansion of health diplomacy.
Minister of Health attending the 8th SCO meeting
The delegation led by Zafarkandi is taking part in the eighth meeting of the Ministry of Health, SCO’s member states.
Health ministers of China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as senior managers of the World Health Organization, are also attending the meeting, Mehr’s news agency reported.
The weekly event, which began on April 24th, will be held under the theme of “Promoting sustainable health development and sharing a healthy future.” It will focus on topics such as increasing the resilience of the health system through primary healthcare (PHC), risk management and medical emergency, improving health services using digital technologies such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence, and supporting cooperation in the development of traditional medicine.
At the eighth meeting of health ministers of SCO member states, two documents will be signed, including the eighth meeting of the SCO Health Ministers and the declaration of the SCO Medical Emergency Action Plan.
Zafarqandi will give a speech and hold discussions with the health ministers of SCO member states on ways to improve health relations.
On the first day of his visit to China on April 24th, Zafarkandi attended a conference entitled “Health Based on Change and Innovation: New Opportunities for Iran-China Cooperation in the Field of Medical Technology.”
Zafarqandi expressed optimism that the medical partnership between Iran and China will expand given the advancement of the two countries in the fields of medicine, medicine and medical devices, and took practical and enforceable measures following President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to China.
During the meeting, around 18 Chinese drug, medical and hospital equipment manufacturers introduced the products and proposed medical manufacturing, technology transfer and collaborations to meet Iran’s needs.
The seventh meeting of health ministers of SCO member states was held in Kazakhstan in March.
The health and safety of the drinking water environment was the main topic of the three-day event. Three documents have been signed to promote cooperation on safe drinking water and sewage management, adopting comprehensive policies and basic measures to improve health care in Member States from 2025 to 2027.
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