SESRIC launched the OIC Health Report 2025 at the 8th Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM), held on 7-9 October 2025 in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Drawing on the latest available data, this flagship report reviews the decade-long implementation of the OIC Strategic Health Programme of Action (OIC-SHPA 2014–2023). It highlights both the significant health gains achieved across OIC countries and the ongoing challenges that continue to shape the region’s health landscape.

The report highlights notable improvements in public health over the past two decades. In OIC countries, life expectancy increased from 62.2 years in 2000 to 68.9 years in 2023, maternal mortality declined from 502 to 299 deaths per 100,000 live births, and under-five mortality dropped from 101 to 52 per 1,000 live births.

Child nutrition also improved: stunting among children under five dropped from 33.4% to 26.1%, and overweight prevalence fell from 6.0% to 5.5%. Progress in disease control is evident, with malaria incidence stabilizing, tuberculosis closely monitored, and polio eradication efforts continuing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Health research output surged by 149% between 2015 and 2024, raising the OIC region’s share of global life sciences publications to nearly 10%. Several countries, including Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, strengthened regulatory capacity for medicines and vaccines, reflecting growing resilience in health systems.

Despite these advances, the report underscores significant remaining challenges. Health financing lags behind global standards, with average expenditure at 3.9% of GDP in 2022 and high out-of-pocket payments limiting access. Workforce shortages persist, with only 30.6 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 10,000 people, while hospital bed availability averages 14 per 10,000, restricting service delivery and emergency response. Non-communicable diseases now account for over 7 million deaths annually, driven by cardiovascular disease, rising obesity, and insufficient physical activity. Maternal and child health services remain uneven, with just 59% of pregnant women receiving four antenatal visits and 75% of births attended by skilled personnel.

Emergency preparedness is also a critical concern. OIC countries experienced 24% of global natural disasters and accounted for 36% of disaster-related deaths, yet average readiness scores remain below global benchmarks. Growing antimicrobial resistance further threatens progress, with antibiotic use 18% above the global median.

The report calls for extending the OIC-SHPA framework to consolidate gains, address systemic gaps, and strengthen preparedness for pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related health risks. It stresses that OIC solidarity, strategic investment, and alignment with global health frameworks will be vital to safeguarding the health of 1.9 billion people across Member States.

Online Electronic Version

• OIC Health Report 2025: Concluding a Decade of Health Cooperation under OIC-SHPA – Achievements, Challenges, and the Road Ahead (English) (Arabic) (French).