Director of Health attends WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee meeting (with photos)

The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today (October 19) led a delegation from the Department of Health (DH) to participate in the 77th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Manila, the Philippines. He took part in extensive conversations with agents from other nations and areas on significant health problems of typical issue. They checked out useful action methods and efficient methods to enhance the strength of health systems.

Throughout the opening session today, Dr Lam reported on the most recent advancements and difficulties in public health in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

He stated, “The latest progress report announced by the WHO shows that the Western Pacific Region’s Universal Health Coverage index has risen significantly, with particularly notable progress in communicable disease prevention and control, demonstrating the powerful force of regional collaboration. The HKSAR is committed to maintaining a resilient public health system, including accessible healthcare services, comprehensive disease prevention and control, surveillance and early warning, and emergency response and preparedness. As a result, the HKSAR has consistently ranked among the world’s best in core health indicators, such as life expectancy, and maternal and infant mortality rates. However, like other economies in the region, the HKSAR faces a number of public health challenges, such as the growing burden posed by non-communicable diseases, healthcare workforce, communicable diseases, and climate-related health risks. The HKSAR is actively leveraging digital health tools and artificial intelligence to optimise resource allocation and enhance the efficiency of primary healthcare. We are adopting a ‘life-course approach’ to ensure that our public health measures protect all people, especially the vulnerable.”

The Chief Executive just recently revealed the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address (Policy Address), offering a tactical vision for a brilliant brand-new period and improving income. In regards to health care, 3 essential instructions are covered, consisting of deepening health care system reform, establishing Hong Kong into a health and medical development center with worldwide impact, and playing the function of a health care ‘superconnector’ for the HKSAR to deepen cross-boundary health care co-operation, line up with nationwide requirements and deepen worldwide co-operation.

Dr Lam included, “The WHO Western Pacific Region’s vision of ‘Weaving Health for All’ closely aligns with the strategic development directions and objectives on healthcare outlined in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address. Hong Kong, China, will continue to collaborate closely with the WHO, leveraging the advantage under ‘one country, two systems’ to continuously deepen exchanges and co-operation on health with various regions, deeply participate in global health governance, and make positive contributions to improving the health and well-being of people around the world.”

Throughout the conference, individuals will likewise go over expert system, high blood pressure control, immunisation, tobacco control, along with local health necessary stockpile and pooled procurement system, to name a few subjects.

With the ongoing assistance of the National Health Commission of individuals’s Republic of China, the DH has actually actively incorporated into and served the nationwide health advancement structure, actively supporting the WHO ahead of time international health problems and dealing with different public health obstacles, adding to international public health. The DH has actually been designated by the WHO as a Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence and a Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine for over 10 successive years. The DH likewise works as a recommendation lab for different contagious illness, adding to international illness monitoring and skill training.

Dr Lam included that the Microbiology Division of the general public Health Laboratory Services Branch under the Centre for Health Protection of the DH was designated by the WHO this year as a “Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System”and has actually successively hosted worldwide professional conferences on WHO’s monitoring, reaction, and avoidance and control of international influenza, and on the formula of the International Herbal Pharmacopoeia, totally showing the HKSAR’s essential bridging function in the health care field and its contribution to enhancing worldwide health governance. With the assistance of the Central Government and under the concept of “one country, two systems”the DH will continue to preserve close intermediary with the WHO member states and areas on numerous problems worrying the defense of public health. Through multilateral cooperation and consensus-building, the DH will even more improve and protect total public health in the area.

Ends/Monday, October 19, 2026

Released at HKT 17:25

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