In a meeting today, countries of WHO South-East Asia Region adopted a Ministerial Declaration which resolves to strengthen health system resilience for ensuring health security, achieve Sustainable Development Goals for health,
achieve universal health coverage.

The member countries committed to reorient health systems towards comprehensive primary health care through increased public investments which will eventually set the foundation for strengthening both public health emergency capabilities and the achievement of universal health coverage.

“Strong health systems that are primary health care-oriented, and which leave no one behind, create populations that are healthier, more productive and financially secure. Resilient health systems are the bedrock of emergency preparedness and response, and ensure that when acute events occur, essential health services can be maintained.” , Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia said, elucidating on the importance of primary health care.

The declaration also commits to closer engagement with communities and making essential health services and public health programmes accessible to them during and after the pandemic.

To roll-out effective responses for at-risk and affected communities, the present member countries agreed to ensure integration of public health emergencies and disaster risk management strategies. They also ensured that they will strengthen surveillance and preparedness capacity at the primary health care level.

The meeting also focused on the inclusion of treating non-communicable diseases which include mental health and other programmes at the primary health care level.

The declaration further emphasized on the importance of leveraging additional resources and partnerships to support the development of national capacities to address public health emergencies and ensure the delivery of high-quality health services for all.