Geneva, 21 May 2017 (PAHO/WHO) - Today the Ministers of Health of the Commonwealth countries examined a variety of options for achieving sustainable funding of universal access to health, and discussed how health security is affected by funding issues and by violence, including domestic violence.  

Also discussed at this annual meeting of the Commonwealth's health authorities was the need to address noncommunicable diseases in the framework of universal access to health, a point raised by the Caribbean countries.

The meeting's Chair, Cyprus's Minister of Health, George Pamboridis, opened the meeting by stating that sustainable funding for universal health is essential to health security and to reducing violence. He urged the countries of the bloc to share success stories and to work together in seeking solutions.

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, stressed that these countries face the challenge of "translating their firm commitment into practical action" to achieve the financial conditions needed for universal access to health. She emphasized that while the formulas used to reach that objective will depend largely on local realities, the diversity of the Commonwealth countries can be an asset in finding optimal solutions for each.

Secretaria General del bloque, Patricia Scotland
At the meeting of the Commonwealth Health ministers, the bloc's secretary general, Patricia Scotland, stressed that the challenge of the bloc's countries "is to translate their strong commitment to practical action" to achieve universal access to health".

In this context, the meeting's keynote speaker, Mark Bells, an academic specializing in policy on public health and violence, remarked that violence is an increasing factor for the Commonwealth countries, and is costly not only to the economy, but also to the health services. He emphasized that the impact is not limited to the direct consequences of violence, but is associated also with a series of other factors affecting health systems, ranging from sexually transmitted diseases and mental health to the harmful consumption of alcohol and other substances.

Noncommunicable diseases in the Caribbean

Speaking for the Caribbean countries, Jamaica's Minister of Health, Christopher Tufton, observed that noncommunicable diseases represent a "crisis of significant proportions" for this subregion, and described the actions these countries are taking to address the crisis. Estimates, he said, indicate that 40% of premature deaths (in the 30- to 69-year-old age group) are due to factors such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

He also spoke of the impact that these diseases have on the economy, adding that while some interventions by the Caribbean countries have been successful, more action is required. He underlined that multisectoral approaches to action are increasingly being used to address risk factors, such as unhealthy diet, harmful alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, associated with these diseases.

Ministro de Salud de Jamaica, Christopher Tufton
Jamaica's Health Minister Christopher Tufton explained that the Caribbean faces "a crisis of significant proportions" from non-communicable diseases and noted that at least 40% of the population dies prematurely (between the ages of 30 and 69 years).

He explained that many countries are establishing standards to address specific risk factors associated with the intake of certain substances (e.g., salt, sugar, tobacco, and alcohol). Measures to address this include restrictions on certain foods in schools and on the marketing of particular products, as well as requiring labeling to provide consumers with information and recommendations regarding the health effects of the products they are consuming.

The Ministers of Health of the Commonwealth meet annually to discuss subjects of shared interest on the day before the opening of the World Health Assembly. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of over 50 countries around the world, most of which share a history as former British colonies, and includes 13 countries in the Region of the Americas.

Links

PAHO - 70th World Health Assembly
2017 Meeting of Commonwealth Health Ministers