Minister of Health Dr. Ali Al-Obaidi Saturday welcomed the "important" decisions of the Arab Health Ministers during their recent meeting in Cairo, Egypt. Al-Obaidi, in a press statement following his return from Cairo where he took part in meetings of the health ministers' council and the Executive Office of the council, described the discussions as objective and constructive. He said his Arab counterparts were eager to develop common Arab action in health and humanitarian fields. Al-Obaidi said the Arab health ministers approved two Kuwaiti proposals, the establishment of an Arab center for patients' rights and issuing a law to protect rights of patients. He said Kuwait's paper over how to confront noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) was approved by the health ministers. Al-Obaidi underlined importance of confronting NCDs like cancer, diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases. "NCDs are among the most important challenges facing health systems and development plans in the Arab countries and around the world." He said Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby commended Kuwait's leading humanitarian role. Al-Obaidi said the Arab health ministers approved a strategy to improve wellbeing of mothers in the Arab countries.