Dr. Taufeeq Ahmed Khojah, The Director General of the Executive Board of the Health General Secretariat of the Health Ministers Council for the Gulf Cooperation Council States (HMC/ GCC) opened here today the works of the Board"s 71st regular session. In an opening speech, the Director General spoke about the topics on the agenda including the quality of the health services provided to patients and their safety; alternative and complementary medicines; registration and fighting of cancer cases and combating non-communicable diseases based on evidence- medicine; emergency medical services, and pandemic influenza of A (H1N1) and primary health care. The meeting was convened amidst the 68th session of the GCC Health Ministers due to take place in Abu Dhabi, the UAE from February 2-3, 2010. --SPA