Muscat: Data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States indicate that the number of healthy cities in the GCC member states has reached 53. This reflects the continued expansion in adopting the "Healthy Cities" concept as an integrated framework linking urban planning and public health.

According to Oman News Agency, Gulf health authorities affirm that the Healthy Cities initiative represents a practical embodiment of the philosophy of integrating health into all aspects of daily life. They note that digital transformation and health innovation have become fundamental pillars in the development of healthcare systems across the region.

Furthermore, ongoing Gulf efforts are intensifying to strengthen the region's standing as a pioneering model in the advancement of health systems and to achieve integration between health and developmental policies, thereby serving the well-being of communities.

GCC countries have recorded high rates in the number of hospitals, physicians, and hospital beds per 10,000 population compared to global averages. This underscores the progressive development of healthcare infrastructure and the improved quality of health services provided to residents.

Data from the GCC Statistical Centre also show that mortality rates attributed to air pollution in GCC countries range between 16 and 45 deaths per 100,000 population. Meanwhile, the member states recorded extremely low mortality rates resulting from exposure to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation facilities, or lack of hygiene, with the highest value recorded for this indicator not exceeding 0.1 deaths per 100,000 population.

In addition, GCC countries registered insignificant rates in the indicator of unintentional poisoning mortality, where the highest recorded value for this indicator did not exceed 0.4 deaths per 100,000 population.