17 October 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The 72nd session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC72) concludes today after three days of high-level discussions under the theme “Together for a healthier future”.
The Regional Committee is WHO’s governing body in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, bringing together ministers of health and senior delegates from the Region’s 22 Member States and territories to address critical public health issues and agree strategy for the Organization. Health ministers were joined by representatives from partner organizations and WHO experts.
“We gather to shape political commitments that improve health for the 750 million people of our Region,” said WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy.
“Despite abrupt funding cuts and shrinking fiscal space, we have continued to deliver. Yet with one third of global health emergencies and six protracted crises in our Region, the impact of reduced funding has been severe. Critical areas such as disease surveillance and control, outbreak and humanitarian response, and polio eradication have been among the hardest hit. The full effects may not yet be felt, but their consequences are already with us,” said Balkhy.
Participants reviewed progress made under WHO’s Regional Strategic Operational Plan (RSOP) 2925-2028, which includes three flagship initiatives to galvanize action on strengthening the health workforce, expanding equitable access to medicines, and tackling the growing challenge of substance use.
They also discussed priorities such as eradicating polio, protecting children through immunization, improving palliative care, advancing biosafety and building stronger, more resilient health systems.
RC72 convened as the Region faces an unprecedented number of emergencies affecting more than 115 million people. Despite these challenges, the Region’s commitment to universal health coverage, equity and solidarity is translating into progress on the ground.
After extensive deliberations, RC72 adopted five resolutions addressing critical health priorities.
A resolution on reaching zero-dose children and advancing measles and rubella elimination urges Member States to identify and vaccinate children who have yet to receive a single routine vaccine and sets clear targets for rubella elimination by 2035, in alignment with the Global Immunization Agenda 2030.
Another resolution focuses on health systems recovery in fragile and conflict-affected settings, outlining a range of actions to ensure that countries’ health systems are better prepared for crises such as war or natural disaster, and that emergencies are used as an opportunity to “build back better”.
Member States also endorsed a regional framework to strengthen palliative care in hospitals, primary care and communities, and adopted recommendations to minimize biological risks and enhance safety in health laboratories.
And there was agreement to finalize and introduce a new operational action plan for climate change and health in the Region, to help address growing climate-related health challenges, including extreme heat, droughts, water scarcity, dust storms, rising sea levels and climate-induced displacement.
Closing the session, Dr Balkhy commended Member States for their unity and commitment.
“Regional solidarity is not optional—it is our only way forward. Every country must strengthen domestic financing, ensure efficiency, and invest in people-centred systems. We must also support one another through pooled procurement, shared expertise, and innovative solutions.
“The health of our Region is a shared responsibility. We must turn this crisis into an opportunity to build systems that are resilient, self-reliant, and worthy of our people.”
With participants reaffirming their commitment to collective action on health, this year’s session laid the groundwork to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and health for all.
The next Regional Committee session (RC73) will be held in Cairo in October 2026.
