15th Meeting of OIC Steering Committee on Health Convenes

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) today, 11 September 2025, convened the 15th Meeting of the OIC Steering Committee on Health (SCH) at its General Secretariat in Jeddah under the chairmanship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The meeting gathered Member States of the Steering Committee on Health, relevant OIC institutions, and international partners as part of the preparatory process for the 8th Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM), scheduled to take place in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on 7–8 October 2025.

In his opening remarks on behalf of the OIC, H.E. Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology, welcomed participants and commended their steadfast engagement in advancing the OIC health agenda.

He recalled that, “despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, meaningful progress has been achieved in the implementation of the OIC Strategic Health Programme of Action (SHPA 2014–2023).” He further reaffirmed the unwavering support and full cooperation of the OIC General Secretariat to ensure the success of the current meeting and the fruitful outcomes of the forthcoming 8th ICHM.

The Chair, H.E. Eng. Huda Ababneh, Director of Projects Management, Planning, and International Cooperation at the Jordanian Ministry of Health, welcomed the Member States, OIC institutions, and partners. She expressed appreciation for the dedication of the Lead Country Coordinators Group (LCCG) in advancing the Strategic Health Programme of Action, noting its significant contribution to health promotion and resilience across OIC Member States. H.E. Eng. Ababneh underscored that the deliberations of the meeting embody the OIC’s spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and collective resolve to safeguard public health, emphasizing that “health is not only a fundamental human right, but also the foundation upon which we build prosperous, sustainable and resilient societies.”

The 15th SCH meeting provides a platform to review progress, share experiences, and consolidate joint actions ahead of the 8thICHM. Key agenda items include: assessing the implementation of the OIC SHPA 2014–2023 and its follow-up actions; aligning Member States’ priorities with global health agendas; and strengthening collaborative mechanisms to address emerging health challenges.

The outcomes of this meeting will feed directly into the deliberations and resolutions of the 8th ICHM in Amman, which aims to set new strategic directions for health cooperation within the OIC.