BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 20. The first conference of health ministers of the Developing Eight Countries (D-8), which brings together developing Islamic nations, was held in Cairo, Trend reports citing Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population.
Delegations from D-8 member states took part in the event, and Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Health Rasim Ismayilov.
The three-day conference concluded with the adoption of the “Cairo Joint Ministerial Declaration on Health.” The declaration emphasizes that healthcare is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of sustainable development, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states, with a combined population exceeding 1.2 billion, to achieve regional health security and comprehensive healthcare access.
The declaration also envisions the creation of a “Permanent D-8 Health Working Group,” the enhancement of pandemic preparedness through early warning systems and international health regulations, the promotion of local production of medicines, vaccines and health technologies, and the development of regional supply chains. Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through robust monitoring and rational use programs is also highlighted as a key priority.
Additionally, the document focuses on mitigating the health impacts of climate change, building resilient healthcare systems, and strengthening maternal, child and adolescent health through integrated programs. It also underscores the importance of accelerating digital transformation in healthcare, such as electronic health records, telemedicine and artificial intelligence, while ensuring data protection.
The declaration calls for the outlined principles to be translated into concrete action plans by 2026.
The D-8 group was established in 1997 to promote economic cooperation among member countries. The current members are Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Egypt has chaired the group since last year.
Azerbaijan was unanimously admitted as a full member of the D-8 during the organization’s 11th summit, which took place in Cairo on December 19, 2024.
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