1 November 2023 – The Doha Statement on Healthy Cities was endorsed today, concluding the Eastern Mediterranean Healthy Cities Conference2023 jointly organized by WHO and Ministry of Public Health of Qatar. The Doha Declaration serves as a call for action to advance towards to sustainable urban well-being.

The 2-day event brought together experts and specialists from almost all corners of the world. In endorsing the Doha Statement, participants expressed commitment, within the remit of their responsibilities, to:

ensure that all relevant sectors at the local and national levels consider health and well-being when developing policies, planning strategies and assessing the societal cost–benefit of different options;

systematically address the challenges posed to public health by climate change;

prioritize the reduction of health inequalities in communities via targeted interventions;

involve local communities in health-related needs assessment and decision-making processes; and

collect, analysis and make available to all stakeholders the relevant evidence and information needed to assess the health status of the populations.