She called on the head of the regional coalition to combat chronic diseases, d. Ibtihal Fadel, to the necessity of holding harmful industries owners accountable for their responsibilities towards public health in the eastern Mediterranean region, stressing that the time has come to hold those parties that contribute to the exacerbation of the rates of noncommunicable diseases. D. Ibtihal Fadel: “It is time for the owners of harmful industries accountable for their responsibilities towards public health in the eastern Mediterranean region,” in light of the disturbing escalation of the rates of these diseases, which are now causing 74% of deaths worldwide, while their main causes, especially harmful commercial factors, remain outside the scope of accounting. She pointed out that the United Nations is preparing to hold a high -level meeting on the twenty -fifth of September 2025, to discuss prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, stressing that the draft political announcement issued recently by this meeting came full of good intentions, but it was devoid of binding requirements that could make a real difference in the reality of public health, especially in the Arab region and the eastern Mediterranean region.
Dr. Ibtihal Fadel indicated that the draft stressed the importance of preventing chronic diseases and improving health systems, in addition to facing environmental and social influences, but, as she put it, “is satisfied with structural terms when eating harmful commercial factors, without setting clear goals to hold the industries that promote tobacco products, sweetened drinks and ultra -manufactured foods.” She added that these industries, which target children and adolescents extensively, remain immune to any effective oversight, despite the escalation of obesity, diabetes and tobacco abuse among young people, noting that the absence of mechanisms for disclosure of conflicts of interests, and the lack of transparent obligations about commercial pressure activities, represent one of the major gaps in the health systems in the region. “Why do we all have to demand the accountability of these industries?”, “Why do we all have to demand the accountability of these industries?” And d. Ibtihal Fadel that the expected political declaration must include several major elements, including:- Measureable time goals and reduce exposure to harmful commercial factors.- Transparent mechanisms to disclose the activities of harmful industries in health policies. It relates to tobacco use and obesity.
Dr. Ibtihal Fadel, her statement by saying that the issue has become clear: “Either we continue to leave the field open to harmful industries to determine the public health agenda, or to move to protect our peoples and our future generations,” stressing that the United Nations meeting in 2025 represents a decisive opportunity that must be invested in raising the voice of the countries of the region and civil society to demand a political declaration that goes beyond words to actions, and includes binding texts that set An end to those who are responsible for the non -communicable diseases.
