Toward Resilient Health Systems in MENA Region

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the COVID-19
outbreak as a pandemic. This pandemic persisted for more than two years and is estimated to have infected approximately 631.5 million globally and caused the death of over 6.5 million.
The catastrophic humanitarian consequences of this public health crisis did not spare the populations and the economies of the MENA region, although the impact varied by country given that the region is known for its heterogeneity in health indicators, health care systems, governance, income level, geography and the proportion of refugees and displaced populations due to war and political conflicts. Moreover, just like in other regions, the pandemic impacted the population disproportionately; causing greater suffering to the disadvantaged vulnerable populations, who already suffer from low income, poorer health and being refugees.
The objective of this conference is to share information about the health and economic burden of COVID-19 and describe the challenges and gaps and to propose reforms to strengthen the capacity of these systems to respond to future pandemics. Two issues will merit special focus throughout all sessions, namely, equity in accessing the health services and the effectiveness of health systems governance. The sessions will also be informed by international experiences.
In the course of the discussion, it is recognized that the root causes of inequity are very much related to the Social Determinants of Health. Tackling these socio-economic determinants would require good governance that promotes building capacity to strengthen
country’s institutions for evidence-based health policies. More ambitiously, it would require revamping social contracts, revisiting social policies, as well as addressing the fragmented, non-inclusive and unsustainable social protection systems in the Region.
The intended audience of the conference includes policymakers, health program managers, public health specialists, academics, NGOs and UN agencies. Addressing health issues is the business of everyone and no consensus can be built without the engagement of all concerned.