Arab Health Systems to Tap Migrant Expertise, Amman Declaration Concludes

Amman, Oct. 20 (Petra) — The “Conference on the Role of Arab Migrant Health Professionals in Supporting Health Systems” concluded Sunday with the issuance of the Amman Declaration, thanking His Majesty King Abdullah II for his royal patronage of the landmark event.

The declaration, endorsed by Arab health ministers and conference participants, underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy to leverage the skills and expertise of Arab health professionals working abroad.

It highlighted the crucial role these professionals can play in enhancing healthcare sectors across the Arab world, emphasizing the importance of fostering an environment conducive to unlocking their full potential in service of their countries of origin.

A key recommendation was the establishment of a centralized database to track Arab health professionals abroad, which would facilitate their participation in national and regional health initiatives. Their expertise is seen as vital to addressing challenges in areas such as humanitarian aid, emergency medicine, public health, medical training, and telemedicine, among others.

The declaration framed Arab health professionals abroad as a significant resource, urging a holistic approach to engage them as a cornerstone of national healthcare development.

It noted that the global trend of health worker migration poses both challenges and opportunities, particularly given the growing demand for healthcare workers to meet the goals of universal health coverage and sustainable development.

Addressing the issue of migration, the declaration called for coordinated efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of health worker shortages on Arab countries, while also exploring ways to harness the expertise of these professionals for the benefit of the region’s healthcare systems.

The document also called for improved regulation of health worker migration, as well as repatriation strategies, urging greater cooperation between Arab states to implement policies that foster the development and retention of healthcare talent.

In addition, Arab health ministries were encouraged to design programs aimed at incentivizing migrant health professionals to return home, with a focus on enhancing healthcare services, developing capacity, and advancing scientific research.

The conference organizers praised the contributions of the Jordanian Ministry of Health, other Arab health ministries, and international organizations, including the World Health Organization, for their role in ensuring the success of the event.

The declaration also advocated for the regular convening of this conference under the umbrella of the Arab League, in coordination with key regional and international health organizations, to foster collaboration on health worker migration and ensure that their expertise is fully utilized to support Arab healthcare systems.

//Petra// AA
20/10/2024 16:51:31