Setting Priorities in Health Systems
22 November 2001
The 13th Triennial Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) will take place in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 25-29 November 2001. The meeting will be chaired by the New Zealand Health Minister, the Hon Annette King, and the Commonwealth Secretariat delegation will be led by Secretary-General Don McKinnon. Ministers and delegations from more than 40 Commonwealth countries are expected to participate, and 15 Commonwealth associations, other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and partner agencies will attend as observers.Priority Setting in Health Systems, the theme for the meeting, is both appropriate and timely, given that governments in developing and developed Commonwealth countries are having to deal with growing public demands for quality healthcare. These calls come at a time when human and financial resources are overstretched and many new health challenges are demanding urgent attention.
The agenda for the meeting will include: · Priority Setting in health; processes and mechanisms
· HIV/AIDS: A Commonwealth Emergency
· A draft Commonwealth Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health professionals
· Access to drugs at affordable prices · Management of human and financial resources for health
· Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health systems.
This will be only the second time a Commonwealth ministerial meeting is open to the media (the first was the 14th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Halifax, Canada in 2000). In addition the media will have a daily opportunity to speak with selected Ministers based on requests related to the day's proceedings.
In plenary, panel and roundtable sessions, Ministers will discuss these and other issues -which are likely to include the impact of globalisation on health and healthcare, the potential of traditional and complementary medicines, and the growing threat of bioterrorism. The agenda was developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat in consultation with ministries of health, international health organizations, academics and NGOs.
In addition to reviewing the action taken by governments, the Secretariat and NGOs on the recommendations of the last CHMM, held in Barbados in 1998, Health Ministers will recommend new or continuing priority activities to be undertaken by governments, regional organizations, the Secretariat and NGOs over the next three years (2001-2004).
In parallel with the CHMM, there will be a Commonwealth Health Symposium and Trade Fair providing a forum for academic, private sector and civil society specialists to discuss health priorities in the Commonwealth. Against the backdrop of a trade exhibition, the symposium will provide a platform for the views of health-care specialists and other stakeholders in the public, private and non-governmental sectors. There will be opportunities for these views to be shared with Ministers during joint sessions.
The parallel symposium and trade fair are organised by Kensington Publications Ltd (KPL), a London-based private-sector company working in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Note to Editors:
The meeting will take place at the Christchurch Convention Centre, 95 Kilmore Street, Christchurch, New Zealand. Tel: +64 (0)3 366 8899; fax: +64 (0)3 363 3364; website: www.convention.co.nz
For further information about CHMM, including media enquiries, please see the website www.13CHMM.org.nz, or contact:
Daniel Woolford
Conference Spokesperson
Park Royal Hotel
Tel: +64 (0)3 365 7799
Fax: +64 (0)3 377 2514
Mobile: (within New Zealand only) 027 223 2654
01/77 22 November 2001
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