The First Health System Conference in Yemen
In an important step towards enhancing the sustainability of the health system in Yemen, the first health system conference was launched in the city of Aden under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak – Prime Minister and the supervision of Dr. Qasim Mohammed Buhaibeh – His Excellency the Minister of Public Health and Population and Mr. Ahmed Hamed Lamlas – His Excellency the Minister of State, Governor of Aden Governorate. The Ministry of Public Health and Population organized the first medical conference on the health system in Yemen with the support of the World Health Organization and UNICEF and with the attendance of high-level government officials, representatives of international organizations and development partners.
The conference aims to discuss the challenges facing the health sector in Yemen and provide practical and sustainable solutions to enhance the quality of health services, especially in light of the increasing challenges imposed by economic crises and ongoing conflicts.
This event comes as part of national efforts to reform and develop the health system to ensure the sustainability of its services and improve their quality. Its activities concluded with a set of reforms and recommendations aimed at strengthening the infrastructure of the health sector and developing a national health strategy for the years 2026-2035 AD, in addition to restructuring the Ministry of Health and its programs and updating its regulations.
The conference, organized by the Ministry of Public Health and Population with the participation of 600 health cadres, government leaders and health sector partners, stressed the need to train the ministry’s cadres and offices in health management and set clear criteria for nomination for leadership positions in coordination with the Ministry of Local Government, in addition to updating health care models and activating the community health worker program as part of the trend towards preventive and community health.
The recommendations stressed the importance of strengthening the management of chronic diseases and supporting physical therapy centers and prosthetic limbs, in addition to enhancing the efficiency of government spending in the health sector, governance of community contribution, accelerating the approval of the Health Support Fund and studying the possibility of implementing health insurance in Yemen. The participants also called for activating rural services for doctors, strengthening the role of the Medical Specialties Council to provide specialties that meet health needs and developing the National Institute of Public Health as an entity concerned with formulating health policies and producing scientific evidence. In the context of the challenges facing the health sector, the conference stressed the need to conduct a study on the migration of health professionals and hold a high-level meeting to discuss ways to address it, in addition to reviewing the drug fund and encouraging local investment in the pharmaceutical industry, enhancing programs for rationalizing the use of drugs and microbial resistance to antibiotics, in addition to expanding electronic networks between health facilities and enhancing the information system and electronic health record. For his part, Dr. Qasim Buhaibeh, Minister of Public Health and Population, confirmed that the conference recommendations will constitute a basic roadmap for the ministry’s strategies during the coming period, pointing to the formation of a special unit to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations and ensure their application on the ground through the combined efforts of all concerned parties. He also stressed the importance of developing radical solutions to preserve the health cadre from migration by providing a set of incentives to support its continued work within the country. During the event, Mr. Ali Jarhum, Chairman of the General Investment Authority, delivered his speech on enabling the pharmaceutical production community in Yemen to improve and develop its products and highlight its role in supporting the national economy, achieving drug security and sustainable development, enhancing consumer confidence, and exchanging ideas, visions and perceptions in a way that enables everyone to overcome any future challenges or obstacles, leading to achieving food and drug security in our country in general.
The event was held from February 19-20, 2025 in the Coral Hotel Hall.