DUSHANBE, May 24, Asia-Plus - The second session of the Health Council at the Integration Committee of Eurasian Economic Committee has opened in Almaty, Kazakhstan, today.  

The session participants include the Council members and experts from member nations of the Community as well as representatives from the EAEC Interstate Parliamentary Assembly, Secretariat and Commission of the Permanent Representatives.  

The session is discussing issues related to integration in the field of health care, improving quality and availability of medical aid, etc.   

The session is also considering draft proposals on projecting interstate target programs  such as “Public Health in EAEC” and “Telemedicine” as well as  a progress of implementation of an agreement on taking obligations on the grant for combating AIDS/HIV in Central Asia, concluded between EAEC and International Development Association.  

Participants at the meeting are also considering issues related harmonization of health laws of the Community member countries.  

The Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) was put into motion on October 10 2000 when Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed the treaty. EAEC was formally created when the treaty was finally ratified by all five member states in May 2001.

In May 2002, Moldova and Ukraine were granted observer status within EAEC; however, Ukraine subsequently declared its desire not to become a full member state. Armenia received observer status in April 2003.

Uzbekistan applied for membership in October 2005 when the process of merging the Central Asian Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Community began.  The organizations joined on January 25 2006.