Arab-China Health Forum Opens in Cairo
The two-day forum in Cairo is discussing health security, universal health coverage and cooperation with Chinese health companies.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Healthcare
The third Arab-China Health Cooperation Forum opened Sunday at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo under the theme 'Innovation, Investment and Impact: Towards a New Phase of Arab-Chinese Cooperation.' Kuwait's Assistant Undersecretary for External Health Services Dr Hisham Kalandar represented Kuwait at the event.
Why it matters
The forum brings Arab health officials and a Chinese delegation together to set priorities for future cooperation on health systems, technology and supply chains. Its outcomes will feed into the work of the Council of Arab Health Ministers.
The forum runs two days, and the first Arab-Chinese Exhibition of Medical and Pharmaceutical Supplies and Equipment runs from November 8 to 11, 2026. The exhibition is open to delegations attending the 65th regular session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and the second Arab Conference on the Role of Migrant Arab Health Professionals. Commercial terms and deal values were not disclosed.
The players
Arab League
The Arab League is a regional organization of Arab states founded in 1945 that coordinates political and cooperative efforts across member countries.
Majed Abu Ramadan
Majed Abu Ramadan serves as Palestinian Minister of Health and has led public health reporting on conditions in Gaza during the ongoing conflict.
The details
Sessions cover health security and emergency preparedness, universal health coverage, health workforce investment, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, traditional medicine, and medical supply chains. Chinese health companies are exhibiting, and Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan briefed delegates on conditions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Timeline
November 8, 2026: Forum opens at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
November 8 to 11, 2026: First Arab-Chinese medical and pharmaceutical exhibition is held.
Following the forum: A joint Arab-Chinese declaration is expected to set out a roadmap for cooperation.
Healthcare Landscape
The forum's joint declaration is due to be submitted to the Council of Arab Health Ministers, the body that sets health policy priorities across Arab states. That places Arab-Chinese health cooperation within the Council's existing regional agenda rather than as a standalone initiative.
Health officials and companies in the region may see new partnership channels for medical supplies and digital health tools as cooperation develops. Changes to supply chains and availability for patients will depend on what the joint declaration ultimately commits to.
The takeaway
Cooperation between Arab states and China on health security, workforce and technology is moving from discussion toward defined roadmaps. Readers tracking healthcare supply chains should watch the joint declaration once it is published.
What happens next
A joint Arab-Chinese declaration is expected at the end of the forum and will be submitted to a future session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers.
Further reading
Explore more Healthcare industry coverage to see how international health partnerships are shaping the sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kuwait Times.
