From October 29 to 31, the 74th session of the European Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) is taking place in Copenhagen.

Health ministers, other officials from 53 member states of the WHO European Region, and representatives of international organizations are participating in the session, with Azerbaijan represented by a delegation led by Health Minister Teymur Musayev.

At the event’s opening, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed current global health issues and provided information on measures the organization is taking to address them. WHO Regional Director for Europe, Chair of the 73rd session of the European Regional Committee, Hans Henri Kluge, also presented a report on the activities of the European Regional Office since the previous session.

After the speeches by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Hans Henri Kluge, the session's agenda was presented for discussion. It includes the election of the chair for the 74th session, discussions on the health situation in the European Region, and strategic actions by the WHO to achieve the goals of the “European Programme of Work for 2020–2025,” as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Hans Henri Kluge was re-elected as Chair of the WHO European Regional Committee based on the voting results. The head of the Azerbaijani delegation, Minister of Health Teymur Musayev, greeted the event participants and first congratulated Hans Henri Kluge on his re-election.

According to the head of the delegation, promoting health is vital for achieving Sustainable Development Goals and creating stronger healthcare systems at the national level. “With global life expectancy on the rise, we must pay particular attention to the health of all citizens. One of the goals of the "Social-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022–2026," approved by President Ilham Aliyev, is to ensure a healthy lifestyle for citizens.”

It was noted that over the past 20 years, significant work has been done in Azerbaijan to strengthen the national healthcare system, develop human capital, and finance healthcare. “More than 700 medical facilities have been constructed, renovated, and equipped with modern medical technology.”

Teymur Musayev highlighted that the introduction of mandatory health insurance across the country on April 1, 2021, has been a significant development for the social and economic life of the country, establishing a new economic foundation for financing the healthcare system.

In his speech, the minister emphasized that 2024 has been declared the "Year of Solidarity for a Green World" in Azerbaijan. “The presidential decree notes that Azerbaijan, as a reliable and responsible member of the international community, contributes to addressing the impacts of climate change. Azerbaijan has always been committed to the 'green' agenda and will host the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this November, further underscoring this commitment.”

The head of the Azerbaijani delegation shared that, as the chair of COP29, Azerbaijan has launched the “Baku Initiative for Human Development for Climate Resilience,” aimed at strengthening cross-sector collaboration and complementarity in education, healthcare, and employment.

The minister also noted that, under the “Great Return” Program, significant work is underway by the Azerbaijani government to restore and rebuild the liberated territories: “However, excessive contamination of these formerly occupied lands with mines and explosives seriously impedes the timely implementation of the Program’s activities. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War, 381 citizens, mostly civilians, have either been killed or severely injured by landmines, posing challenges to our healthcare system.”

“The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the WHO Country Office, has launched a psychological support project to support the healthy reintegration of citizens returning to the liberated areas. Remaining committed to the ‘One Health’ agenda, we will ensure access to quality medical services across the entire country,” concluded Teymur Musayev.

The session will continue with discussions on various topics in panel sessions and will conclude on October 31.

It should be noted that the Regional Committee is the governing body for the WHO European Region. Its session is the main public health meeting in the region, gathering health ministers annually to discuss and approve strategies aimed at improving health and living standards.