KATHMANDU - Health ministers of South Asian countries have called for enhanced cooperation on various health issues, including safeguarding the health of migrants.
The ministers, who gathered at a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Sri Lanka from Thursday to Saturday, adopted "Colombo Declaration -- Calling for accelerated progress on key Regional Health Issues," according to a statement received here Monday.
The declaration made recommendations on cooperation on important areas related to public health such as Vector-Borne Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Nutrition, Sanitation, traditional systems of medicines and Human Resources for Health, the statement said.
The Declaration also agreed to collaborate at a regional level to safeguard the health of migrants.
SAARC is a regional body established in 1985 which comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
SAARC's Secretary General Amjad Hussain B. Sial, has also proposed to establish a South Asian Medical University with the SAARC member states which could enable South Asian students to study medicine within the region at affordable cost, according to the statement. (Xinhua)