Consultation on Strengthening Specialized Clinical Services in the Pacific
Place: Suva, Fiji
Date: 3 Nov, 2008 - 5 Nov, 2008
The Consultation on Strengthening Specialized Clinical Services in the Pacific was conducted in Suva, Fiji, from 3 to 5 November 2008 by the World Health Organization's Representative Office in the South Pacific.
The objectives of the meeting were:
- to develop a model for strengthening specialized clinical services in the Pacific;
- to discuss and agree on strategic actions for appropriate and demand‑driven capacity‑building of Pacific health professionals to improve access to quality clinical services; and
- to identify measures to sustain the active engagement of senior officials of ministries of health and national focal points and other key stakeholders in the initiative.
The meeting endorsed the general direction of the model, as outlined in a Concept Paper drafted for the meeting, but several alterations in design were recommended. A country-led Programme Design Group was established to facilitate the timely development of the programme and the incorporation of changes relating to the governance and coordination mechanism, as defined in the consultation meeting.
Key donors, namely the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) were asked to facilitate and fund the design process for the specialized clinical services programme, which will be completed by 31 March 2009.
Once the programme is designed, the Secretariat for Strengthening Access to Specialized Clinical Services in the Pacific should be established. The final programme design document for Strengthening Access to Specialized Clinical Services in the Pacific should be presented at the Meeting of Pacific Ministers of Health in June 2009 for endorsement.