The 34th Arab Health Ministers' Conference will begin in Cairo Wednesday to discuss ways to improve primary healthcare in the region, WAM news agency reported.

The two-day conference will discuss the status of the Arab health fund, swine flu crisis and alternative funding sources for health services, among other issues, the report said Tuesday.

Health Minister Hanif Hassan will lead the UAE delegation.

Mahmood Fekri, executive director for health policies in the ministry, said: 'The conference will discuss reports of the technical committees for improving primary healthcare standards.'

The Arab Hospitals Union will also hold its meetings on the sidelines of the conference to discuss the current status of healthcare services, decentralisation of the healthcare sector, impact of global financial crisis on the sector and health tourism in the Arab world.