High Level Regional Conference "Health Sector Integrity in the Arab Region: Risk, Solutions, and Roles of Stakeholders"

Organized by: UNDP in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population of the Arab Republic of Egypt

In the Arab region, the health sector is a critical priority, yet it faces mounting challenges, including issues related to health financing, limited access to quality services, weak governance frameworks, and insufficient participation in decision-making between healthcare providers and beneficiaries. Although regional reform efforts have accelerated—partly in response to the COVID-19 crisis, which exposed the vulnerabilities of many health systems—these efforts have often fallen short in addressing these core challenges. Moreover, they have not adequately focused on promoting integrity or preventing and combating corruption, despite the direct impact corruption has on the effectiveness of policies and programs in this vital sector.

In response to these challenges, and as part of its regional partnership with the Arab Anti-Corruption and Integrity Network (ACINET) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population of the Arab Republic of Egypt, organized a high-level regional conference titled “Health Sector Integrity in the Arab Region: Risks, Solutions, and the Roles of Stakeholders”. The event will take place in Cairo, Egypt, on 21 October 2024.

The conference brought together regional delegations from Arab countries, including 50 + ministers and senior representatives from health ministries, integrity and anti-corruption commissions, financial and administrative oversight bodies, as well as high-level officials and leading experts from regional and international organizations, research centers, and specialized civil society organizations. This gathering offered participants a valuable opportunity to explore concepts and practices related to integrity in the health sector, highlighting their strategic importance in enabling the sector to contribute to sustainable development in the Arab region. Additionally, the conference provided a specialized platform for exchanging experiences and deepening discussions on the most effective approaches to assess and mitigate corruption risks in the health sector.