Kuwaiti health minister urges GCC curb on illegitimate tobacco trade

Health Minister Ali Al-Obaidi urged Gulf Cooperation Council member states, following ministerial talks on Thursday, to approve a protocol on tackling the illegitimate tobacco trade based on a 2015-30 strategy.
Meanwhile, the minister said he was pleased with the outcomes of the talks, on tackling chronic diseases and adopting World Health Organisation-set standards on healthcare staff and efficiency assessment.
Kuwait's proposal to spread public awareness on limiting salt consumption according to another WHO recommendation was also adopted as a GCC initiative, along with a recommendation on the burdens of cancer patients, and a decision to limit advertisements for energy drinks.
These recommendations are to be adopted "on the ground immediately" due to their importance to the health and safety of people of the region, minister Al-Obaidi told KUNA.
On noncommunicable (chronic) diseases, he urged GCC member states to adopt a national plan on the matter based on the joint regional plan.
Other decisions call for developing healthcare data systems and launching an observatory on health systems and policies in cooperation with the WHO Eastern Mediterranean regional office.