ECO health ministers drafting Baku Declaration

Health ministers from Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states have gathered in Baku to draft initiatives to address the main health concerns of the region.

Azerbaijani Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev said the ECO health ministers are expected to achieve concrete results during their first meeting, which opened on February 4 in Azerbaijan’s capital.

“Health care is an important area of cooperation, so the exchange of experiences and cooperation in it can be useful for the entire region,” he added.

The two-day meeting will address issues such as blood disorders, blood transfusions, and ways to prevent the distribution of counterfeit medicines, Shiraliyev explained.

The ECO health ministers are sharing experiences in order to promote the development of the region, and at the end of the meeting, the Baku Declaration will be adopted, he said.

ECO was established by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey in 1985. In 1992, the organization was expanded to include seven new members, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.