Our guest to the delegates’ corner is Dr Ghulam Asghar Abbasi, Chief Health Planning and Development division, a member in the Pakistani delegation to the Regional Committee.

The RC meeting is an important event where countries of the Region debate upon the issues faced by them in achieving better health care services. In this regard we expect two or maximum three resolutions, and followed up vigorously in the coming year’s implementation report.

Among the most important issues on top of the RC agenda

Health systems strengthening.

International health regulations implementation.

Noncommunicable diseases prevention and control.

I liked very much the focused discussions on noncommunicable diseases prevention and control

Because the burden of diseases is increasing as a result of the prevalence of NCDs, therefore the issue needs handling in its entirety.

I would like to see a strong resolution on NCDs at the end of the meeting.

Our guest to the delegates’ corner is Dr Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, Director, Center for Disease Control, Islamic Republic of Iran and a member in the Iranian delegation to the Regional Committee.

My expectation from this session of the RC is

Paying more attention to HIV as the fastest growing epidemic among 6 regions of WHO

Putting the challenges of MDR-TB/XDRTB/IB/HIV and intensified case finding programmes for TB for the next RC session (we didn’t pay attention to challenge of TB in this meeting)

MDR/XDR-TB/ TB/HIV

Dengue fever

Challenging issues of NCD regional programme

Mental health and drug use challenges

HIV infection and drug use challenges and access to key population

NCD discussions

Pooled vaccine

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT)

Because all of these issues are important and challenging priorities on our agenda

Our guest to the delegates’ corner is Dr Ahmed Al Qasmi, Director-General of Planning, Oman, a member of the Omani delegation to the Regional Committee.

I expect from this meeting a practical and clear road map on how to develop and strengthen health systems in the Region with a plan of action from WHO and countries, as I consider it to be the most important issue for this session of the Regional Committee.

I have particularly appreciated the effective time management of the meeting.

Interactions and feedback, especially on the health system strengthening in the Region paper, were great.

The comments were frank and transparent and to the point.

I hope to see as an outcome of this meeting an establishment of strong networks in planning and health systems development and a strong message on the need for multisectoral cooperation.

Our guest to the delegates’ corner is Dr Mariam Al Jalahama, Assistant undersecretary for Primary Care and Public Health, Bahrain, a member OF the Bahraini delegation to the Regional Committee.

Our expectations of the Regional Committee meeting were to focus on:

noncommunicable diseases

financing health care

health system reform

modifying rules and regulations.

From my point of view the following issues also are very important.

Health system strengthening in countries of the Region

Political Declaration on UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable diseases

WHO reform.

What I liked most about this RC session was:

the excellent organization

focus on key issues

control of time for discussions

the newsletter “RC news”

the side discussions on important issues, such as health financing health, were good.

The traffic light system actually resulted in a more effective use of time. Sometimes, unnecessary discussions distract our focus and prioritization.

I would like to see a decision on political commitment and health system

Our guest to the delegates’ corner is Dr Mohammed Jaber Huwail, Deputy Director-General of Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Iraq, a member of the Iraqi delegation to the Regional Committee.

We expect from this Regional Committee recommendations which will help us to strengthen our approaches in the different domains of public health.

All the agenda items of this meeting are important, although they appear to be ‘scattered’, in reality they are closely related to the overall theme of strengthening health systems.

I have particularly appreciated the precise and elaborated discussions with effective time management.

As an outcome of this meeting I would like to see more integrated approaches focusing on health system strengthening and modernization to deal with all other issues.

Our guest to the delegates’ corner is H.E. Dr Hani Abdeen, Minister of Health, Palestine.

My expectations were to:

become oriented on the activities of the Regional Committee

familiarize myself on the topics discussed

meet the different stakeholders

learn about future strategies for the Region.

I found the strengthening of health systems session most useful.

I appreciated the smooth running of the meeting and the traffic light system.

Delegates should stay as closely as possible to the issue under discussion.