Health Minister discusses strengthening cooperation with WHO representative
Key Takeaways
- Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan met WHO Representative Reinhilde Van de Weerdt in Ramallah.
- Meeting included WHO deputy Shannon Barkley and focused on enhancing cooperation and joint coordination.
- Abu Ramadan assessed the health sector situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Palestine health cooperation
On March 9, 2026 in Ramallah, Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan met with World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Palestine Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, accompanied by her deputy Shannon Barkley.
“RAMALLAH, March 9, 2026 (WAFA) —Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan met on Monday with World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Palestine, Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, accompanied by her deputy, Shannon Barkley, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination”
They discussed ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination between the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the WHO, focusing on strengthening the existing partnership and identifying practical areas for collaboration.
Health sector assessment
Minister Abu Ramadan assessed the state of the health sector in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and emphasized the challenges it faces under the current circumstances.
He emphasized a severe financial crisis that substantially hinders the provision of essential health services.
He underscored the need to bolster international efforts to safeguard medical facilities and health personnel and to uphold the right to health, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
He called for measures to facilitate medical evacuations for patients from Gaza to access specialized treatment in hospitals across the West Bank, including private and community facilities.
Support for Palestinian health
WHO representative Reinhilde Van de Weerdt reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to sustaining support for the Palestinian health sector.
“RAMALLAH, March 9, 2026 (WAFA) —Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan met on Monday with World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Palestine, Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, accompanied by her deputy, Shannon Barkley, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination”
She said WHO will collaborate with the Ministry of Health and international partners to enhance the system’s capacity and ensure delivery of health services.
The two sides explored support in areas such as health policy development, program support, and capacity building within the health sector.
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