Dr Soe Nyunt-U, WHO Representative in Mongolia meets with H.E. Prime Minister of Mongolia Mr Altankhuyag to discuss public health issues and WHO collaboration.
The meeting was initiated at the invitation of the PM as part of Government’s priority to strengthen quality of health services at all levels of the health care system. Dr Soe Nyunt-U thanked the PM for the opportunity provided to WHO and other partners to discuss issues and challenges that currently faced the health system and how this can be tackled together.
WHO Mongolia has been established since 1970 as part of the UN system and has continued to provide technical and financial support to Government of Mongolia with the aim of improving the people’s health. The support includes technical cooperation, policy advice, norms and standards, sharing knowledge and information, coordination and convening.
Dr Soe then highlighted some priority areas in which WHO is currently working with MOH and some key actions that are needed to make this initiatives successful. These are;
1. NCD remains major cause of mortality and morbidity (heart diseases, stroke, cancer, chronic lung diseases, road accidents, violence and injuries)
- Multi-sectoral action is needed to tackle the risk factors through appropriate policies in all sectors.
2. Communicable diseases including STI, TB, Hepatitis, emerging and vaccine preventable diseases
- Surveillance, risk assessment, early detection and treatment
- Strengthening laboratory services, including biosafety and quality assurance
- Behavior change communication
- Improvement of water and sanitation
3. Health system strengthening based on PHC approach
- Quality and safety of health service delivery
- Addressing urban and rural disparity
- Addressing all hazards and risks in improving health care (environmental aspects including response to air pollution, water sanitation, impact of mining on health, earthquake, dzud)
- Health financing (universal coverage)
The Prime Minister during discussion showed keen interest to work with WHO and other developmental partners to improve the quality of health services. He informed that government was currently working on Citizen’s Health Insurance Reform, Establishment of Food and Drug Administration and Improving diagnostic and treatment centres of major hospitals in UB and aimags. He requested for WHO’s technical support in these areas. He also said that he was personally visiting the tertiary hospitals, district hospitals and family group practices to consult with health care workers and public to identify gaps and challenges which are hindering improvement of quality of health services. He invited WHO to meeting at MOH which will discuss the findings of his visit.
