Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Representatives
Dr Takeshi Kasai, Regional Director
[Members of the WHO Executive Board Bureau]
Representatives of agencies of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the seventieth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.
Our Chairperson from last year’s meeting, Sir Dr Puka Temu from Papua New Guinea (PNG), has moved on from his role as Minister of Health in PNG to another post in the PNG government, and is thus unable to join us here in Manila this week. As Vice-chair for last year’s meeting, I am therefore, standing in as Chair for this morning’s proceedings.
Excellencies:
We had gathered this time last year here in Manila, for a very exciting week, which included the election of the new Regional Director. I would like to take this opportunity to once again congratulate, Dr Kasai, our new RD for WPRO.
It is now my great pleasure and honour to be able to report to you on some of the progress that have been achieved since we last met.
First, the Regional Committee endorsed the Regional Action Agenda on Harnessing E-Health for Improved Health Service Delivery in the Western Pacific.
To take advantage of the enormous potential of e-health in transforming our health systems to advance universal health coverage, the Committee urged Member States to develop and implement national e-health strategies along with a series of other actions. In 2018, most countries in the region had developed or were in the process of developing their national digital health strategies. With WHO’s and other agencies’ support, countries are also sharing lessons learned and challenges – in order to learn from one another’s experience in this rapidly developing area.
Second, the Committee endorsed the Regional Action Framework on Improving Hospital Planning and Management in the Western Pacific.
In most countries, hospitals dominate health service delivery. However, as we all know, ensuring that all hospitals are high-performing – and delivering the mix of services needed to advance universal health coverage – is a complex task. To advance this agenda over the past twelve months, a regional collaborative network has been established – through which Member States can share common issues, challenges and ongoing initiatives aimed at improving service quality and patient safety. WHO has provided support to build capacity of hospital managers, and is providing ongoing support to several countries on various hospital governance issues.
Third, the Committee endorsed the Regional Action Framework for Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the Western Pacific.
The Region continues to make great progress in this area. Since last year, three more countries have been validated for having eliminated lymphatic filariasis or trachoma – as we will hear about later today. Several others are on track to achieve this within the next few years. To sustain this momentum, Member States, together with WHO and other partner agencies, are strengthening multisectoral collaboration and partnerships in order to reach all vulnerable and marginalised populations affected by NTDs.
Fourth, we endorsed the Regional Action Agenda on Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Health in the SDGs.
The Action Agenda provides guidance to countries for the development, implementation, and evaluation of law to advance universal health coverage. Using the Action Agenda as a basis, over the past year WHO has strengthened its support to Member States across a broad range of technical areas, from legislation for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, to health workforce regulation.
Finally, the Committee endorsed the Western Pacific Regional Framework on Rehabilitation, urging Member States to strengthen their health systems to include rehabilitation services as part of universal health coverage.
Countries in the Western Pacific are making excellent progress in integrating rehabilitation into the health system, including through developing national rehabilitation plans – and strengthening community and primary level health care to provide rehabilitation for patients and families. With a focus on addressing ageing populations and support for people managing noncommunicable diseases over their lifetime, quality rehabilitation delivered in the health system as part of UHC is becoming a reality for many countries in the Western Pacific.
Excellencies:
We have another very busy week ahead of us this year. I am looking forward to working with all of you to advance our region’s health agenda.
I thank again last year’s Chairperson, Sir Puka Temu, for his excellent Chairmanship – and the other office bearers for their wonderful support.
Finally, a big thank you to Regional Director Dr Kasai and your staff, for the excellent organisation of this meeting and for your hard work since last year – to support all of us in delivering better health for the people of the Western Pacific Region.
Thank you.