Health Ministers call for consolidation of health improvement efforts

Ministers of Health from countries of WHOs South-East Asia Region have called for strengthening inter-country collaboration to improve the health of people in the region. Recognising the threats to health they have called for bolstering health sector capacity to meet emergency needs as well as to respond to the aspirations and needs of their populations.

The 23rd meeting of the health ministers concluded yesterday with recommendations on health action in emergencies, including response to earthquakes and tsunamis of December 26, 2004; Strengthening public health infrastructure with emphasis on education and practice; and access to medicines and vaccines; implications of intellectual property protection and trade agreements.

WHO Director General, Dr. Lee Jong-wook noted, with satisfaction, the progress made by countries affected by the tsunami and commended Member states for having avoided major outbreaks of disease. He however cautioned them about a possible impending Avian influenza pandemic. Dr. Lee said that the reservoir of the virus had moved from domestic poultry to ducks and has now been established in migratory birds in China.

The danger of the expanding geographical range of the virus increases possibility for human cases to occur, increasing the potential for it to become more contagious.

WHO's strategic plan recommends action during the three phases of a possible pandemic. For the first phase, the need is for improved case detection and diagnostic capacity in affected and at-risk countries, as an early warning system; in the second phase, at the emergence of a pandemic virus, the need is to mobilise the international stockpile of antiviral drugs to treat emerging cases; in the third phase, during the pandemic spread, the priority would be to speed up vaccine development, technology transfer and manufacturing capacity.

The Ministers recommended the institutionalisation of emergency preparedness and response programmes within the ministries of health and to engage communities and other sectors in their plans. They also called for a strengthening of media relations with international and national media as media reporting often defines public understanding of a situation. This would need strengthening of health sector capacity through media training as well as orienting media for their better understanding of health issues.

The Ministers recommended that WHO should continue to work in the area of Intellectual Property Rights and its effect on access to medicines and vaccines, and to develop a comprehensive strategy in relation to public health. The Ministers have requested WHO to provide Health Ministries with technical assistance for human resource development and also assist them for participation in trade negotiations with a bearing on access to medicines.

Minister of Health, Nimal Sripala de Silva, and Chairman of Health Ministers' Forum, stressed the need to reach the millions of the poor and vulnerable who have missed out on the benefits of the health revolution of the 20th century.

He concluded that while future health challenges impose daunting responsibilities on the health sector, the countries of the region, together, have the resources and the capability to tackle them.