Regional health leaders pledge to eliminate neglected diseases, improve hospitals, strengthen laws and use e-health

11 October 2018
News release

MANILA, 11 October 2018 – Ministers of health and senior officials at the sixty-ninth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific today endorsed regional action agendas and frameworks to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases, improve hospital planning and management, harness e-health to improve services and strengthen legal frameworks for health.

Controlling and eliminating diseases that stigmatize and discriminate

People living in tropical and subtropical areas who lack access to adequate sanitation, basic infrastructure and health services often suffer from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—a group of diseases that can have severe health impacts and lead to stigma and discrimination—of which 15 are endemic in the Western Pacific Region. Delegates today endorsed the Regional Framework for Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Pacific.

care for lf

Photo: RTI International/Nguyen Minh Duc

The Region has seen remarkable progress in combating NTDs in recent years. Since 2016, nine countries and areas (Cambodia, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and Futuna) have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. Last year, Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic eliminated blinding trachoma as a public health problem. The new Framework will build on these achievements and strive to end the scourge of NTDs in the Western Pacific.

Improving hospital planning and management

Delegates endorsed the Regional Action Framework on Improving Hospital Planning and Management in the Western Pacific. Although hospitals occupy a central place in health service delivery, countries can struggle to ensure hospital services are effectively planned and managed. The Framework provides guidance to countries on policies and actions to improve hospital performance, supporting efforts to increase equitable access to quality health services that are people-centred and do not cause undue financial hardship.

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Photo: WHO/Y.Shimizu

Harnessing e-health to improve health service delivery

Delegates endorsed the Western Pacific Regional Action Agenda on Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Health in the Sustainable Development Goals. The Framework has five core action areas: health system governance; protecting and fulfilling rights; access to health services; preventing and managing public health risks; and addressing social determinants of health.

Legal frameworks affect health and the determinants of health in many ways. Laws organize and allocate responsibilities, set standards, and authorize and compel action. They are important as a tool of cooperation and coordination. As such, it is crucial for all stakeholders to understand their roles in the development and implementation of law.

Also today, the Regional Committee will discuss progress in health security, infectious and noncommunicable diseases, and environmental health. Tomorrow, health leaders are expected to endorse a regional framework on rehabilitation.
Related links:

More on the sixty-ninth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific

Neglected tropical diseases

 Hospital planning and management

 E-health

Legal frameworks for health

 


Notes to editors

The Regional Committee is streamed live on the WHO website www.who.int/westernpacificand updates are being posted on the @WHOWPRO Facebook and Twitter accounts with the hashtag #RCM69.

Working with 194 Member States across six regions, WHO is the United Nations agency responsible for public health. Each WHO region has its own regional committee, composed of ministers of health and senior officials from Member States, who meet annually. The Regional Committee sets policies and reviews WHO’s work over the previous year.

The 37 countries and areas of the WHO Western Pacific Region are: American Samoa (USA), Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (France), Guam (USA), Hong Kong SAR (China), Japan, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macao SAR (China), Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Niue, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (USA), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands (UK), Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and Futuna (France).

 

 

Media Contacts

Mr Ruel E. Serrano

Communications for Partnerships Support Officer
WHO Representative Office in the Solomon Islands

Mobile: +677 7666 325

Ms Maria Cristina D. Nery

Communications Officer
WHO Western Pacific

Telephone: +63 2 8528 9991