Brunei has increased its budget allocation for healthcare to ensure the well-being of the people are strengthened, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland recently.
The minister joined health ministers and representatives from World Health Organization (WHO) member countries. In his speech during the plenary session on the draft of 14th General Programme of Work, the minister expressed hope of increased commitment between member countries to achieve health goals in line with the assembly’s theme, which was ‘All for Health, Health for All’ this year.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also said the Ministry of Health (MoH) is in the process of reviewing a strategic plan to strengthen the country’s healthcare in line with the concept of universal health coverage (UHC).
To ensure the continuity of healthcare, early detection of disease and empower patients, digital tools, including the BruHealth app, will enable new healthcare models and innovative approaches to treat minor illnesses and reorient the system to value-based care, the minister said.
The new strategic plan, the minister said, “will drive the advancement in the health sciences, with the newly established Brunei disease prevention and control centre playing a role in integrating health intelligence and better data analysis to support the formulation of policies and delivery of health programmes.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said the phrase, ‘Health for All’, reflects the joint responsibility of all member countries in healthcare, including those dealing with humanitarian emergencies.
The Sultanate is currently involved in the negotiation of a new pandemic agreement and amendments to international health regulations, he said.
As a small country, “strengthening global health security structure is essential for national interest and the first line of defence in the face of future public health emergencies.
Therefore, Brunei’s stance is to ensure the agreed pandemic agreement will respect the principles of equality and justice among countries as well as produce meaningful improvements in preparedness and response to outbreak”.
The minister said, “Brunei expresses regrets over the ongoing situation in Gaza and Palestinian territories that has resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries.” He thus urged for all parties involved to fulfil their obligations under the international humanitarian law, especially in protecting the public as well as the medical workers.
The 77th World Health Assembly also discussed various public and global health issues, including, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, immunisation, antimicrobial resistance, malaria, preparedness and response to public health emergencies, nutrition of mothers and infants, climate change and pollution.
The assembly elected Brunei as a member of the Executive Board of the WHO for the term May 2024 until May 2027.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also held a bilateral discussion with Malaysia’s Minister of Health Dr Dzulkefly bin Ahmad on areas of cooperation in health, and met with Director of International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Dr Elisabete Weiderpass.
The meeting discussed areas of cooperation relating to cancer research in Brunei, including genetic data analysis, implementation and assessment of cancer prevention programme, access to scientific information, training programmes and biobank.
Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dayangku Hajah Mazlizah binti Pengiran Haji Mahalee was also present. – James Kon
