Urgent health challenges are the focus of the 76th WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, currently taking place in Nadi, Fiji. Key issues under discussion include under-resourced primary healthcare, a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), digital health gaps, and increasing oral health problems.
Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown, the outgoing Chairperson of the WHO Regional Committee, noted that this platform enables member states to evaluate their progress, tackle urgent health concerns, and create initiatives targeting vulnerable populations. Addressing ongoing challenges, she highlighted WHO’s efforts in helping countries like Indonesia, Mongolia, and the Philippines boost their funding for primary care, using data to drive impactful health policies.
The need for transformative primary health care is pressing, especially as countries face an aging population, escalating rates of NCDs, and potential health security risks. “As nations grapple with these urgent issues, transformative primary healthcare becomes vital,” Brown remarked.
Digital health is also a growing area of focus, with Brown emphasizing the challenges involved in governance, coordination, and sustainable financing. The regional digital health framework is assisting countries in adopting people-centric technologies, including artificial intelligence, while enhancing health data governance.
Brown observed that despite decades since the Alma-Ata Declaration, many health systems continue to be hospital-focused, which complicates efforts to modernize healthcare delivery. She pointed out that oral health is particularly concerning, with issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss rising by 30 percent over the past 30 years. The WHO’s regional plan aims to integrate oral health into primary care, promoting better nutrition and quality of life while preventing disease.
Dr. Jemesa Tudravu, the Permanent Secretary for Health, echoed the forum’s significance by allowing countries to tackle transboundary health challenges collectively. Hosting such events not only benefits Fiji’s economy but also strengthens health systems both nationally and regionally.
Tudravu highlighted how the discussions at this meeting facilitate collaboration on health issues that impact populations across borders. He noted that Fiji is advancing its healthcare service delivery by privatizing certain hospital services while ensuring coordination with the Ministry of Health. He also commented that the Healthy Islands Initiative will be updated during the forum to reflect current health priorities.
As health ministers and officials gather, the discussions are shaped by a commitment to innovative solutions, justice, and empowerment, projecting a hopeful vision for the future of health across the Pacific Islands. Through enhanced cooperation and collective advocacy, these nations aim to create resilient health systems that benefit their communities and the region as a whole.
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