Bolstering health co-operation among Gulf countries will be discussed at a major event in Bahrain next month.

The 74th GCC Health Ministers' Conference will be held from January 8 to 10 at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa, said a report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

Ministers will explore the need to improve medical practices, combat the spread of non-contagious diseases, healthcare and patient safety standards, better medical facilities and awareness programmes and establishing specialised centres.

They will also focus on alternative medicine, combating malaria, better protection for expatriate workers, combating smoking, and misuse of steroids and enhancers at gyms and health clubs.

Unified GCC purchases of medicines and equipment and medical funding will also come under the spotlight.

"Most of the issues on agenda are set to be approved whether it is improving medical practices or raising medical culture and awareness, but in some issues of conflict things may be referred for further study," said Health Ministry public and international relations director Abdulaziz Al Refaie.

"Specialists will present papers on how to develop work provided by GCC health ministries, which would help make decisions and reach conclusions.

"Contributors and top ministry and GCC health officials will be honoured on the opening day, and roundtable will be held to discuss recommendations on the last day."

Al Refaie said Bahrain would present several new proposals to the GCC during the conference.

"We have ideas for medical funding that would see the private sector become a major contributor to developing public health facilities," he said.

"We are also planning to present a study on the full implementation of unified GCC purchases and databases." – TradeArabia News Service