The second conference of health ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in the Russian city of Ufa was attended by China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Iran and Russia.
The session addressed a number of issues on health and health security and combating fake, altered and counterfeit medical products, IRNA reported.
The issue of multilateral cooperation under the SCO framework in healthcare, and the prospects for development of such cooperation are on the agenda, said Russian Health Minister Oleg Salagai.
Mohsen Asadi Lari, international deputy to Iran's health minister, explicated Iran's progress in the sphere of health and health security and emphasized on global cooperation in all areas of healthcare.
He also urged for cooperation in reforming healthcare systems and in the areas of research, development of human resources and medical education.
Lari's proposal to set up a permanent secretariat at the SCO for health cooperation was welcomed.
In a meeting with Salagai and health officials from other countries, Lari discussed bilateral cooperation.
Founded in 2001, SCO is a political, economic and military organization comprising China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia have observer status. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey are dialogue partners.
