The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed an unified economic agreement in 1981 in order to diversify the investments of the oil-producers monarchies. But, if they have widely build and upgrade healthcare facilities since the last 25 years, they are facing now a dramatical growth of chronic diseases and a rapid population growth.¹ The GCC countries have to consider new major health challenges.

What is Gulf Cooperation Council?

The six countries of the GCC (the most powerful is Saudi Arabia, gathering also United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) are the fastest growing economies in the world. First of all, this economic agreement through collective security was concluded against the backdrop of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the Iraq-Iran war.

The head of States within the Supreme Council meet twice a year to define strategy and policy. The Foreign Ministers within the Minister Council meet every two months to launch common projects. Then, the General Secretary which is the only permanent structure located in Riyad is able to set up and monitor the projects.

The GCC’s Health Committee has actively  implemented a common health policy in 2007 during the avian influenza. Every year, during Hajj, authorities set up a strict surveillance of pilgrims to prevent any viral infection.

Gulf Cooperation Council Accepted the Membership Requests from Jordan and Morocco

The recent popular uprisings in North Africa removed the traditional Western allies, Ben Ali and Mubarak. The oil-producers monarchies of the GCC can no longer rely on them and “Arab leaders [of GCC] feel that reorganising themselves can help protect them politically and militarily instead of relying on the West, particularly the United States” said Samer Tawil, a former Jordanian minister to AFP. That is why the GCC accepted Moroccan and Jordanian bids to join the “monarchy club”.

Furthermore, Gulf monarchies fear Iranian threat in the region: Jordan and Morocco allies are an asset to boost political and military clout.

Morocco and Jordan had  already signed an economic agreement in 2008 to enhance cross-investments.

Source: Al Jazeera

Health in GCC: a Promising Market

According to a study from McKinsey, total healthcare spending will rich $60 billion in 2025, up from $12 billion today. If the countries widely invested in care facilities in the past few years, they import all of their medical equipment and supplies and remain highly dependent on foreign-trained physicians. The coming decade will bring significant new challenges in healthcare in the GCC countries. Government agencies mostly lack the managerial skills needed to run healthcare facilities and they use outside companies for quality standards and agreements.

Government-run hospitals and clinics are ill prepared for a rapidly growing and aging population, nor are they prepared for the rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes, whose prevalence has grown as countries have developed. To augment services and raise standards of care, some GCC governments have already encouraged internationally renowned academic institutions to set up health-care facilities in their countries. Many more private health-care providers are required, however, to meet future demand.

Both public and private sectors are grappling with a shortage of medical professionals because the output of new national clinical staff cannot keep pace with the GCC population growth. Jordan and Morocco may provide highly skilled professionals (on strike…)

New Growing Health Risks Factors

The prevalence of T2 diabetes and obesity is really high in these countries: according to some sources, obesity prevalence reaches 40 per cent, the highest rate in the world. Obesity is a significant risk factor of comorbidities and mortality, most importantly from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, but also from cancer and chronic diseases.

GCC countries shoulder from 75 percent to 100 per cent of healthcare cost. But they will soon need private sector help to finance it. Private insurance is a strategic market to offset the failings and the shortcomings of the public system facing emerging chronic disease in an aging population. Care reimbursement for all (including foreign workers) is the current issue for quality public care.

But Jordan/Morocco and GCC countries have a poles apart healthcare system. We hope that they will be able together to implement social and fair primary care and specific care for all.

1. In 2025, the compound annual growth rate will reach 3 per cent. [↩]