14 October 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The Seventy-second session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC72) begins tomorrow, 15 October 2025. Hosted by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the event brings together health ministers, policy-makers and regional leaders to address urgent health priorities and longer-term reforms.
RC72 is convening at a time of extraordinary global challenges. Conflict, humanitarian crises, climate change and economic fragility are placing the health systems of many countries under immense strain. Cuts in foreign aid are deepening the pressures with huge health system impact, including closure of health facilities and interruption of disease surveillance and early warning systems.
“We must move quickly from crisis response to recovery. Rebuilding health systems will not only save lives today – it will restore dignity, stability and hope for the future,” says WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy.
Dr Hanan Balkhy will open RC72 alongside Dr Razia Pendse, Chef de Cabinet at WHO Headquarters and representative of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Dr Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, Minister of Health of Djibouti and Vice Chair of RC71.
RC72 provides a platform for countries to deliberate and adopt resolutions on the Region’s most pressing health topics. This year, 5 technical papers will be presented, encouraging Member States to commit to:
Halving the number of zero-dose children – those who have never received a single vaccine – by 2030, and eliminate rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. Between 2019 and 2023, 12.6 million zero-dose children were recorded across the Region, the majority in conflict-affected and displaced communities.
Integrating palliative care into national health systems. Millions – including cancer patients, children with congenital conditions and refugees with chronic illnesses – die in avoidable pain. Expanding palliative care, which currently reaches just 1% of those in need, is an urgent priority.
A new resolution will address health-system recovery in crisis-affected countries like Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territory, Sudan and Yemen. It seeks to ensure that the humanitarian response goes hand in hand with early investment in rebuilding health systems, restoring trust and strengthening future resilience.
Reviewing laboratory safety and governance, a long-overlooked area of regional health security. They will discuss frameworks to close gaps, protect health workers and strengthen the role of laboratories in surveillance, diagnosis and preparedness.
A regional consultation to develop a climate-resilient health framework. Dust storms, extreme heat, floods and water scarcity are reshaping the Region’s health landscape and compounding vulnerabilities. Building on the Global Plan of Action on Climate Change and Health adopted at the World Health Assembly earlier this year, WHO EMRO is proposing a consultative process to develop a regional operational framework on climate and health.
Ministers will also review a range of progress reports on priority health issues, discuss governance matters, and be invited to endorse a call to action on breast cancer, the leading cancer among women in the Region.
“With 16 concurrent emergencies and over 115 million people in need of assistance, the Eastern Mediterranean Region carries one-third of the global humanitarian caseload. The Eastern Mediterranean Region has much to show the world—in its solidarity, courage, and innovation—and these strengths will come together at this year’s Regional Committee.” said Dr Balkhy.
The RC72 agenda is aligned with the Regional Strategic Operational Plan and three flagship initiatives on expanding access to medicines, strengthening the health workforce and addressing substance use.
RC72 will conclude on 17 October 2025. Proceedings will be livestreamed on the WHO/EMRO website and social media channels.
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