Azerbaijani minister broods over bolstering medical ties with Pan-Turkic nations New proposals put forward/PHOTO

On August 16, the III meeting of the ministers of health of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the World Turkic Medical Congress began their work in the city of Samarkand of Uzbekistan.

The press service of the Azerbaijani Health Ministry told Caliber.Az that the international event, which is supported by the Organization of Turkic States and the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, is attended by health ministers of the OTS member states and observers, heads of medical universities, as well as invited scientists from different countries. Health Minister Teymur Musayev is representing Azerbaijan at the congress.

The head of the Samarkand region, Erkinjon Turdimov, who opened the meeting, greeted the participants of the event and wished them success in their work.

In his turn, Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev noted that the issues discussed and the decisions to be taken will give an important impetus to the work of the organization in the future.

Addressing the event, Azerbaijani Health Minister Teymur Musayev stressed that the international congress was organised at a high level. This event will contribute to the further expansion of cooperation between the countries in a new plane:

“As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted in his speech at the IX Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, bolstering ties with the OTS member countries in all areas is one of the main priorities of the foreign policy of our state. Cooperation in all spheres of the socio-political, economic, cultural and social life of our countries, with the direct support of the presidents, is developing upward. This is clearly manifested both within the organization and in bilateral relations.”

The Azerbaijani health minister also noted that interactions between the countries, built on a solid foundation, create the basis for the successful development of relations in the field of healthcare:

“Today's platform is an important factor for deepening multilateral relations not only with the medical specialists of the countries represented in the organization, but also opens up further prospects for cooperation between specialists of the Turkic-speaking peoples. This creates a solid basis for mutual exchange of experience and close cooperation.

“The main directions of the joint activities are the creation of the Common Medical Scientific Space of the member countries and observers of the Organization of Turkic States, the conduct of joint scientific research, the definition of common standards for medical education. The use of information and communication technologies in the field of healthcare makes it possible to exchange medical data on the health of patients with the development of the Unified Electronic Health Standards within the organization,” Teymur Musayev concluded.

In their speeches, Uzbek Health Minister Amrillo Inoyatov, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, Kazakh Health Minister Azhar Giniyat, First Deputy Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan Tilek Mamadaliev, Tajik Health Minister Jamoliddin Abdullozoda, Tatarstan’s Health Minister Marsel Minnullin noted that the international event will create new prospects for cooperation in the field of healthcare between partners from around the world and will make an important contribution to the promotion of joint activities in this direction.

The importance of creating a joint information space in the healthcare systems of the member states of the organization using innovative ideas and advanced technologies, attracting investment in the pharmaceutical industry and the production of medical equipment, developing public-private partnerships in the field of health tourism and medical services was emphasized.

The meeting adopted the final document of the World Turkic Medical Congress - a Joint Declaration.

Further, they got acquainted with the exhibition of the joint Uzbek-Turkish business forum in the field of healthcare, held in parallel with the World Turkic Medical Congress, as well as an exchange of views with forum participants.

Within the framework of the event, a meeting between Azerbaijani Health Minister Teymur Musayev with the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, as well as holding bilateral meetings with the health ministers of the member countries are planned.

The World Turkic Medical Congress will finish its work on August 17.