Regional Director for World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh has stated that Maldives is an exception as far as achievements of health sector are concerned, while also spending the highest per capita on health sector regionally. The Regional Director made the remarks during a press conference held at Paradise Island Resort following the inauguration of the WHO South East Asia Regional Committee which began in Maldives on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at the press conference held after the World Health Organization (WHO) South East Asia Regional Committee, which began in the Maldives, Regional Director, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh said that Maldives is an exception as far as achievements of health sector are concerned. The Regional Director noted that Maldives is amongst the first countries in the region to eliminate many communicable diseases, expressing confidence that it may also become the first country in the region to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB) before the regional and global target. Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh also highlighted that regionally, Maldives spends the highest per capita on health sector with approximately 26 percent of the country's GDP spent on health reform and expansion.
Speaking at the press conference the Regional Director of WHO South East Asia Regional Office noted that impact of climate change on health sector is high on agenda at the ministerial round table. In addition, the WHO Regional Director said the five-day committee meetings would see in-depth discussions on addressing health issues faced in the region.
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh said the discussions would include strengthening of health systems to be resilient towards impacts of climate change on health, ensuring availability of essential medicines to all, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and sharing of resources and supplies amongst the regional countries. Dr. Poonam said one of the main issues to be addressed amongst participants includes road safety, which is important to several countries of the region due to the continuous increase of large amount of deaths that occur in road traffic accidents.
Speaking at the press conference, Minister of Health of Maldives, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim stated that the meeting would be helpful for Maldives to address issues faced by the country's health sector, while it is also a platform for Maldives to showcase strength and achievements in the sector. Health Minister Nazim also highlighted that the regional meeting will focus on discussions pertaining to build health systems resilience to climate change.
The Health Minister said discussions on achieving Sustainable Development Goals, progress towards universal health coverage and strengthening primary health care and health workforce will be held during the regional committee. Minister Nazim said that ministers of the region will discuss, on ways to strengthen inter-country cooperation, in areas such as medicine procurement, pricing and regulation of medical products as well as ways to enhance appropriate use of medicines especially anti-biotics.
The 70th session of the Regional Committee is being held from September 6 to 10 and health ministers and senior health ministry officials from the Region's 11 member countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste are participating in the sessions.