Flagship Initiatives: towards a healthier future

14 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt - An unprecedented series of natural disasters, prolonged conflicts and humanitarian emergencies have left the Eastern Mediterranean Region in desperate need of innovative approaches to build a healthier future for its 750 million inhabitants.

Expanding timely and equitable access to life-saving medicines and vaccines, building a more resilient health workforce and reducing morbidity, mortality and the social costs associated with substance use disorders are among the key priorities.

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hanan Balkhy has presented an ambitious regional vision, revolving around ensuring the best attainable level of health for everyone.

"The starting point to achieve this goal is to focus on three flagship initiatives that will serve as accelerators for the regional vision and its strategic operational plan, which in turn is based on the WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work," said Dr Balkhy.

The three flagship initiatives correspond to urgent regional priorities.

1. Expanding equitable access to medical products

Expanding access to quality medical products is a crucial step towards bridging the gap in health care access in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Countries in the Region are heavily reliant on imports to obtain the medical products their people need, which means that much of the money spent on essential medical products - by individuals, governments and funders - benefits other economies, not countries of the Region.

This flagship initiative aims to enhance access to essential medical products by developing a new regional pooled procurement mechanism that will strengthen accessibility and improve countries' bargaining position with manufacturers, while a programme of sustained technical support at country level will help build domestic capacities for production, distribution and regulation.

2. Investing in a resilient and sustainable health workforce

A skilled health workforce is the backbone of every effective health system and a prerequisite for achieving universal health coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. However, many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region face severe challenges in recruiting and retaining the health professionals they need, while others rely on importing most of their health workforce.

The Region faces a shortage of 2.1 million doctors, nurses and midwives, accounting for over 20% of the projected global health worker shortfall. Investing in the health workforce not only increases life expectancy but also creates jobs and supports economic and social development. There is an urgent need to invest more and better in health workers, ensure workforce sustainability and foster regional collaboration.

The flagship initiative seeks to build a resilient, fit-for-purpose and sustainable health workforce across the Region and achieve health security by 2030, while at the same time promoting equitable occupational opportunities and protecting health professionals from harm.

3. Accelerating public health action on substance use

Substance use is a growing public health challenge in the Region. Over the last 30 years, drug use disorders in the Region have surged by 137%. Despite this alarming increase, only 1 in 13 people receive the treatment they need, compared to 1 in 5 globally. Investing in substance use treatment offers significant returns, with US$ 4-12 saved for every dollar spent.

The flagship initiative aims to reduce the economic, social and health burdens of substance use in the Eastern Mediterranean and the morbidity and mortality associated with substance use disorders. Strategic Region-wide action and collaboration with other United Nations agencies and partners will be complemented by interventions and support tailored to each country context.

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