World Health Organisation (WHO) officials and the Ministers of Health from the 37 countries in the Western Pacific region will meet in Manila, Philippines from October 10 to 14 to discuss steps posed by a rapidly changing health environment.
Health Minister, Dr Neil Sharma said the meeting was an opportunity to learn more about current and future health issues.
“High on the agenda are policies and future directions on antimicrobial resistance, food safety, non-communicable diseases and traditional medicine,” Dr Sharma said.
Experts will also review progress reports on malaria control and elimination in the Western Pacific, dengue prevention and control, mental health, health systems, human resources for health, essential medicines and the expanded programs on immunization.
Dr Shama said his ministry had made notable progress in these areas and would present an update to WHO for further technical support and knowledge sharing.
“Fiji has endorsed the mental health policy and adopted a new mental health decree 2010. We have also amended existing legislation to comply with the WHO Framework Convention Tobacco Control and put in effect the new Tobacco Control Decree 2010,” Dr Sharma said.
“When the new Mental Health Decree came into play, the ministry decentralised health care to three base hospitals- Labasa, Suva and Lautoka.”
In February, 2011 at the Pacific leaders meeting in Nadi a strong statement was adopted on NCD crisis in the Pacific.
The minister said Fiji would seek technical support for lab strengthening (2010-2015) and intake additional trainees for lab training for cancer surveillance.
“The Ministry of Health has centralised its cytology services with manpower centralization, equipment purchase and with dedicated staff, has effectively reduced turn around reporting of pap smear for cervical cancer,” he added.
Another area the ministry is looking into is biomedical equipment and procurement.
Biomedical technology remains a specialized area to procure, install, maintain and service.
Dr Sharma said WHO continued to support development of national plans and policies for health care in the Pacific.