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E-health discussed at Commonwealth ministers meeting

19 May 2008

“Development will have little impact without health” - Sharma

Until all of our citizens have access to the level of health care that is their human right, our development efforts will have little impact, Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General, told health ministers in Geneva on 18 May 2008.

In his opening address at the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM), the Secretary-General called for renewed efforts in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for health. Highlighting the 2008 theme of e-health, he stressed the opportunities new technology could offer in supporting those goals.

“Better health for the peoples of the Commonwealth can be achieved. As our global responses to health challenges have changed, the challenges we are facing have confounded us by changing, as well. We face new challenges, and resurgent old ones. E-health can make a significant contribution to overcoming today’s health challenges,” Mr Sharma said.

“We need the digital revolution to bridge the development divide. E-health can help strengthen health systems, and can strengthen our development efforts. Until all of our citizens have access to the level of health care that is their human right, our development efforts will have limited impact. Achieving better health for the peoples of the Commonwealth is a battle that can be won.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who delivered the keynote address, urged delegates to embrace the “wonders of technology” in order to share knowledge and expertise more widely with the global family.

“Far too many of us are left out of the loop and the disparity between rich and poor is growing. Recognising this is not the same as accepting it with resignation,” he said.

“E-health can help strengthen health systems, and can strengthen our development efforts. Until all of our citizens have access to the level of healthcare that is their human right, our development efforts will have limited impact. Achieving better health for the peoples of the Commonwealth is a battle that can be won.”

“A call has been made in trying to reach the MDGs – a call for global partnerships, to make available the benefits of new technology.”

Access to new technology across the Commonwealth - particularly the rapid growth of mobile phone use in developing countries - is already showing progress in the crucial development goal of health care.

A survey commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat and presented at the meeting, indicated that a large number of Commonwealth countries were already moving forward with innovative local and national programmes. It states: “In some cases (they) are keeping (up with) or exceeding those of larger and better funded jurisdictions.”

The meeting was also addressed by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Margaret Chan, who said momentum to achieve the health-related MDGs continues to grow. At the mid-point stage to 2015, there were some areas of significant progress to report, including record levels of immunisation and a reduction in childhood mortality, she said. Dr Chan called for investment on an adequate scale: “We need to change applications. It is now about scaling up to achieve results.”

The 2008 CHMM took place on the eve of the World Health Assembly, the principal decision-making forum for the WHO’s 93 member states. Delegates at CHMM included Commonwealth health ministers, senior officials, and representatives from the United Nations, WHO and non-governmental organisations.

The WHO defines e-health as ‘the transfer of health resources and health care by electronic means’.