Damascus, Feb. 6 (SANA) The Arab Board of Health Specializations held its first scientific meeting in Damascus in more than 13 years on Thursday, marking a return to its headquarters in Syria after a prolonged hiatus.
The meeting focused on revitalizing the Board’s operations in the country, preparing for a Supreme Council session scheduled for April, and discussing shared regional health priorities, including community medicine, public health, and workforce development in line with global medical standards.
Syria’s Minister of Health, Musab al-Ali, attended the meeting along with members of the Arab Board’s Community Medicine Scientific Council. Participants said the gathering marked a step toward restoring Syria’s role in regional medical training and accreditation frameworks.
Officials said the Board aims to expand training programs, introduce new subspecialties, and open professional pathways for non-physician health workers. Plans also include strengthening research capacity and expanding continuing professional development programs across Arab health systems.
Speaking at the meeting, al-Ali said the relaunch of activities at the Board’s historic headquarters reflects efforts to modernize medical education and adapt to technological advances, including artificial intelligence, while improving health services across the region.
He noted that the Arab Board oversees more than 20 scientific councils across medical specialties and includes over 1,200 professors from Arab countries. He added that more than 2,300 Syrian doctors have earned Arab Board certification and said coordination would increase between Syrian universities, the Syrian Board, and the Arab Board on training and accreditation standards.
The Secretary-General of the Arab Board, Omar Awad al-Rawas, said holding meetings in Damascus represents more than a symbolic return, stressing that the city remains the Board’s permanent headquarters. He noted that many activities had shifted in recent years to other Arab capitals, particularly Amman, but said the current phase would see a gradual expansion of scientific and administrative work in Syria.
Mohammad Iyad Baath Ra’i, head of the Syrian Commission for Health Specialties, said the resumption of meetings in Damascus signals Syria’s re-entry into regional cooperation in medical education and training after years of limited engagement.
The Arab Board of Health Specializations was established in 1978 by the Council of Arab Health Ministers under the League of Arab States. It is responsible for accrediting specialty training programs, unifying training standards, and administering Arab Board examinations across member states.
Last December, Syrian officials announced that Damascus would host the Arab Board’s next Supreme Council meeting in April 2026.
