On behalf of the prime minister, Health Minister Ibrahim Badour on Monday launched the National Centre for Epidemics and Communicable Diseases’ National Strategy for 2026–2030.
During the event, attended by ministers, secretaries-general, representatives of national institutions, and local and international partners, Baddour said the strategy reflects the centre’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of Jordan’s public health and health security system.
He noted that health is no longer limited to curative care, but has become a comprehensive concept closely linked to national security and societal stability, according to a Health Ministry statement.
The minister also said the government gives high priority to public health programmes and is advancing a shift towards a preventive approach, adding that the centre plays a key role in strengthening epidemiological surveillance, enhancing national preparedness, and improving responses to epidemic threats, in line with national priorities and health policies.
He stressed that addressing mounting health challenges requires broad cooperation with local, regional, and international partners, particularly international public health organisations.
Director of the National Centre for Epidemics and Communicable Diseases Adel Belbeisi said the new strategy translates a clear national vision and builds on lessons learned from global and regional experiences, notably the COVID-19 pandemic.
Belbeisi said investing in public health is an investment in the future, noting that the centre is shifting from delayed responses to a proactive, resilience-based approach, grounded in accurate data and science-based decision-making.
Secretary-General of the centre Tareq Maqtash said the strategy is the result of an in-depth scientific assessment of the centre’s work since its establishment, based on a realistic analysis of national and regional health challenges.
He said the strategy aligns with national priorities and the state’s vision for economic modernisation, digital transformation, and improving public-sector efficiency. It was developed through a participatory approach involving institutional dialogue and analytical studies to identify gaps, clarify roles, and strengthen coordination within the One Health framework.
Maqtash added that the strategy is built around key pillars, including governance and institutional integration, modernising public health legislation, strengthening digital transformation and data integration, building national capacities in prevention and response, supporting evidence-based policymaking and research, and enhancing community and international partnerships.
He said the centre plays a national regulatory and coordinating role aimed at improving preparedness and response efficiency, strengthening health security, and safeguarding the sustainability of the health system against emerging and recurring health threats.
World Health Organisation Representative Iman Shankiti said the launch of the strategy marks an important step in enhancing the preparedness of Jordan’s health system, drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said the strategy focuses on strengthening epidemiological surveillance, developing laboratories, building capacities, and ensuring rapid response to health emergencies, reiterating the WHO’s commitment to supporting its implementation in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the national centre.