James Kon
The 34th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting 2022 themed ‘The Road to COVID-19 Recovery: Lessons Learnt for Building Health System Resilience to Advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Health Security in the Commonwealth’, was held virtually from May 17 to 19.
The meeting also had three sub-themes – Effective Pandemic Management; Strengthening Digital Health, and Sustaining Health Gains – focussing on the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic in facilitating the recovery process and ensuring best practices are instilled to keep the ongoing health emergency from threats in the future.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar represented Brunei Darussalam.
Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton officiated while Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, QC, delivered the welcome address.
The meeting had presentations from member country representatives from each region on the COVID-19 response and strategies towards ensuring effective recovery, including strengthening the resilient healthcare system and maintaining important health services.
Member countries also shared best practices and approaches, as well as joint regional efforts on digital health innovations developed during COVID-19, to build a more resilient health system and provide equality for all, leading to health policy coordination which needs to be discussed in preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June.
The meeting also saw a statement from the ministers outlining policies which can be applied and the resulting advancements that can be shared periodically.
This year’s Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting also hopes to encourage commitment at the ministerial level to cooperate and develop innovation in the health sector during the COVID-19 recovery period and increase the resilience of the health system and achieve UHC.
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the Ministry of Health Dr Ang Swee Hui and ministry senior officials also attended the meeting.
