Health ministers and senior officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region will meet in Dili, Timor-Leste, from September 7 to 10 to discuss priorities including equitable access to specialized care, tuberculosis, digital health and artificial intelligence.
The Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, the annual governing body meeting of WHO in the Region, is being hosted by Timor-Leste.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Office-in-Charge for WHO South-East Asia Dr Nilesh Buddha and other senior WHO officials are expected to participate.
A ministerial round table on “Human Resources for Health: Equity in Specialized Care” will examine how countries can improve access to specialized health services as populations age and health needs evolve.
The South-East Asia Region remains at the center of the global tuberculosis epidemic, with an estimated 3.68 million new TB cases and 433,000 deaths in 2024.
Member States will consider strategic priorities to close remaining gaps and accelerate efforts to end tuberculosis, including early diagnosis, prevention and stronger integration of TB services into primary health care.
The meeting will also examine opportunities offered by digital technologies and artificial intelligence to advance universal health coverage and strengthen health systems.
The Regional Committee will review progress toward universal health coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, with continued efforts needed to strengthen primary health care, quality of care, financial protection and health systems.
With more than 35 communicable disease elimination milestones achieved in the Region since 2014, Member States will consider how a more integrated, people-centered approach can accelerate progress toward the remaining 2030 elimination targets, particularly in the last mile.
Other priorities include improving access to quality medical devices and diagnostics through a life-cycle approach covering selection, procurement, use and maintenance.
Member States will also discuss strengthening the resilience of health facilities so they can withstand emergencies and climate-related risks while maintaining essential health services.
The meeting will help shape the health agenda for the WHO South-East Asia Region in the coming years, with a focus on promoting, providing and protecting health and well-being and accelerating progress toward the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.
