Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Health ministers from the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) have signed a Joint Declaration following the fifth anniversary meeting held in Astana.

The meeting was attended by the health ministers of Uzbekistan (Aseilbek Khudayev), Kazakhstan (Akmaral Alnazarova), Azerbaijan (Teymur Musaev), Kyrgyzstan (Erkin Checheybaev), Turkey (Kemal Memishoglu), as well as the OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliyev. The Director of the European Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO), Hans Kluge, attended the meeting as a guest.

The agenda included the development of healthcare systems in OTS countries, expanding partnerships in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, strengthening collaboration with international organizations, and approving the Action Plan for 2025–2026. This document outlines the development of cooperation in areas such as healthcare technology transfer, improving workforce capacity, medical tourism, production of medical and pharmaceutical products, organ transplantation, and enhancing the readiness of medical services for emergencies.

Secretary General of the OTS, Kubanychbek Omuraliyev, in his speech, highlighted the significant progress in strengthening cooperation among member states and the implementation of the Action Plan adopted in 2023. He also emphasized the important role of the WHO's European Regional Office in implementing joint initiatives.

Uzbekistan’s Health Minister Aseilbek Khudayev, speaking at the meeting, focused on the need to enhance medical personnel training, expand experience exchange programs, and develop joint educational projects. He noted that these efforts are key to ensuring that the healthcare systems of the region’s countries meet the highest international standards. He also stressed the importance of collaboration with international partners in areas such as biological safety, combating antimicrobial resistance, and improving epidemiological surveillance.

During the meeting, participants discussed current healthcare challenges, exchanged experiences between specialists, scientists, and representatives of educational and scientific institutions.

The signed Joint Declaration reflects a mutual commitment to the digital transformation of healthcare. The document underscores the importance of sharing knowledge and practices on the implementation of digital solutions, such as the electronic prescription system, across all member states and observer countries of the OTS. It also proposed the creation of a unified medical scientific space, joint research, the development of unified medical education standards, ensuring continuity, and accelerating the adoption of information and communication technologies, including cross-border exchange of patient data and developing common approaches to digital health.

It is worth noting that the previous meeting of OTS health ministers was held in Samarkand in 2023.