(Correspondence) Dr. Raed Arafat meets Palestinian Health Minister in Ramallah

AGERPRES special correspondent Dana Purgaru reports: Doctor Raed Arafat, Secretary of State with Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) and head of the Department for Emergency Situations, together with the head of Romania's Representative Office to Palestine Catalin-Mihai Tirlea participated Thursday morning in Ramallah, in an official meeting with the Minister of Health of Palestine, Dr. Jawad Awaad. 

The dignitaries exchanged views on the state of the Romanian and Palestinian health care system, underscoring the progress accomplished by the two parties with respect to the development of the health infrastructure, to emergency intervention, medical staff training but also to the importance of investments in this area. 

The atmosphere of the meeting was relaxed and Arabic, English but also Romanian were used during the talks taking into account that many of those present know Romania well, as participants themselves stated, an important part of the Palestinian medical staff having been trained in Romania. 

The hosts underscored that the Palestinian health system is rapidly developing, with investments being made in both the infrastructure and the doctors' and nurses' training and patients' treatment. In this respect, the special relation with Romania was brought up, a country in which many Palestinian doctors have obtained their specialization but have also started families, naming them "Romania's best ambassadors" to Palestine. 

"We are proud that you are Palestine's son" were the first words that the Palestinian Health Minister addressed Dr. Raed Arafat. Dr. Jawad Awaad specified that the medical system in Palestine is a good one when compared to that of other Arab regions, and "the maternal mortality ratio is the lowest in this region." 

The intention to set up a Cancer Centre was also mentioned, a construction due to be accomplished in three years' time, the building requiring a 140 million-euro investment. The Centre will serve for the treatment and nursing of people diagnosed with this disease and the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas will personally get involved in this project, as the Palestinian Health Minister pointed out. 

In his turn, Dr. Raed Arafat explained the way Romania's insurance system and also the emergency interventions system function, describing the latter as one of the best. He also provided assurances that Romania and Palestine will pursue and improve their good cooperation, because, as described by Dr. Jawad Awaad "there will always be emergency situations here." 

The meeting took place before the official opening on Thursday, 9 November, of the 2nd Palestinian-Romanian International Medical Congress organised by the Association of Palestinian Doctors and Pharmacists of Romania (AMFPR) in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Palestine, the Embassy of the State of Palestine and the Romanian Department for Emergency Situations, under the aegis of the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. 

As many as 100 doctors with various specializations from Romania and Palestine, alongside Romanian and Palestinian officials are expected to attend the two-day medical congress taking place in the auditorium of the Red Crescent Association in Al-Bireh. 

The first Palestinian-Romanian medical Congress with international participation organised by the Association of Palestinian Doctors and Pharmacists of Romania took place in Bucharest, 9 to 11 April, 2014.