Second Meeting of the Heads of Committees on Health Issues of the TURKPA Member Parliaments

On 22 January 2025, the Second Meeting of the Heads of Committees on Health Issues of the TURKPA Member Parliaments hosted by the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan took place in Baku. The meeting held under the theme “Climate Change and Health: Legislative Responses to the Health Impacts of Climate Change” brought together parliamentarians from member and observer states of TURKPA, as well as from Uzbekistan to discuss legislative solutions to pressing health challenges. The event was inaugurated with opening remarks by Ahliman Amiraslanov, Chairman of the Committee of Healthcare of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the TURKPA Commission on Environment, Natural Resources and Health Protection, who emphasized the importance of improvement of legislative frameworks to address adverse health effects of climate change and the necessity of enhanced inter-parliamentary cooperation within the framework of TURKPA to formulate robust, sustainable, and adaptive healthcare policies. Vedat Bilgin, Chair of the Commission on Health, Family, Labor, and Social Affairs of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Vinera Raimbachayeva, Chairperson of the Committee on Social Policy of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, Guldara Nurimova, Member of the Committee for Social and Cultural Development of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan (participating online), Bakhrom Abdullayev, Chair of the Committee on the Issues of Science, Education, and Healthcare of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Filiz Besim, Vice-Chair of the Administrative, Public, and Health Affairs Committee of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Adil Valiyev, Head of the Social Legislation Department of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehmet Süreyya Er, Secretary General of TURKPA, Ahmet Savaşan, member of the Administrative, Public, and Health Affairs Committee of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Parvana Valiyeva, member of the Committee of Healthcare of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, delivered speeches at the meeting. In his speech, Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er noted that the world was facing a global challenge due to the growing impact of climate change on public health. He emphasized the need for collective action to address these challenges and highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation. He also stressed the role of developing green technologies and raising public awareness of environmental standards. Secretary General noted that collaboration of TURKPA member parliaments on climate change and health issues would contribute to global efforts in this field. The deliberations focused on mitigating climate-induced health risks, reinforcing legal frameworks, and promoting sustainable healthcare policies across TURKPA member states. As part of the program, the delegations visited the Alley of Honors to pay tribute to National Leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. Subsequently they visited and laid flowers at the Alley of Martyrs and “Turkish Martyrdom” monument.