The Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Gulf CDC) convened the 21st meeting of its Supervisory Committee on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, via videoconference, with the participation of representatives from the GCC Member States. The meeting aimed to review the latest developments in the Center’s activities and strengthen Gulf coordination in the areas of prevention and public health emergency preparedness.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks delivered by H.E. Dr. Samia Ali Bahram, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health in the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chair of the current session, who welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of sustaining joint coordination efforts amid ongoing public health challenges. Participants subsequently reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting, discussed progress made in implementing prior recommendations, and assessed the level of achievement across several joint initiatives.
The Committee also discussed the working mechanisms and meeting schedule for the second quarter of the current year, with the aim of ensuring continuity in follow-up activities and enhancing coordination efficiency among relevant entities across Member States. In addition, members reviewed the current awareness and communication plan, with a focus on unifying media messages and raising public awareness to support prevention efforts.
In a related context, the meeting addressed the latest updates on public health emergencies, including developments concerning medical supply chains. Discussions focused on existing challenges and available opportunities to strengthen supply chain resilience and ensure continuity during crises.
The meeting concluded with reaffirmation of the importance of continued joint action and intensified coordination efforts to support Gulf health security and enhance the ability of health systems to respond efficiently and flexibly to various risks and challenges, in line with the Center’s strategic direction in advancing public health across the GCC countries.