The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are considering approving a strategy to tackle Ebola, which would include tests for all foreign workers.

This was announced on Wednesday here by Tawfeek Ahmad Khoja, director general of the GCC’s health ministers’ council, in an address at the body’s 81st session.

Khoja said the meeting was a preparatory one for the upcoming 78th conference of the GCC health ministers. He said the body would discuss a wide range of topics and produce a proposed agenda for the conference hosted by Saudi Arabia from Feb. 4 to 5 in Riyadh.

This includes testing all foreign workers for Ebola. He said the ministers would also look at tackling cancer, smoking and various infectious diseases.

Talks would also focus on joint drug purchases and health promotion activities.

The Saudi Ministry of Labor in September imposed a temporary ban on the recruitment of workers from the Ebola-affected countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

The Ministry of Haj had also stopped issuing Haj and Umrah visas to pilgrims from these countries in April. The Kingdom only approves visas for workers who have undergone medical tests.