AlQa'dah 3, 1432, Oct 1, 2011, SPA -- The Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM) unanimously adopted the Astana Declaration, which called upon the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to promote collective self-reliance in vaccine production and supply through strengthening National Regulatory Authorities and improving capacity for vaccine production and distribution in these states. In this connection, it urged the Member States to promote and intensify research and development efforts for health systems research that can greatly enhance public health outcomes. The theme of the Conference, which was held from 29th September to 1st October 2011 in Astana, Kazakhstan, was “Health, Wellbeing and Equality”. The ICHM reaffirmed the commitment of the OIC Member States to accord high priority to health and to assess the existing national public health systems and develop, strengthen and maintain the core country capacities required under the International Health Regulations (2005) through mobilization of both domestic and external resources and expertise. --MORE
