THE issue of health is central in the region now because of COVID-19, says Fijian academic Dr Steven Ratuva.
He made these comments while responding to a question raised by MP Dr Salik Govind on why the regional concept had not worked in the field of health as none of the Pacific Island countries had standards of health care anywhere near the likes of Australia and New Zealand or other developed countries.
Speaking during the submission on the 2005 Agreement Establishing the Pacific Island Forum to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence last week, Dr Ratuva said COVID-19 was actually sitting on pre-existing health issues and making it worse.
“In terms of regional responses to health, the regional organisation that deals with it is the SPC, the Pacific Community,” Dr Ratuva said.
“They have a significant section. Much of their health expertise and responses had to do with collecting data and providing advice, perhaps not sufficiently in terms of primary health care, which was one of the things very much needed in the Pacific.”
He said the issue of health was complicated because it was linked to issues of wellbeing, development and resources.
He said regional organisations like SPC should link up with the World Health Organisation and individual countries in the region.
He added Fiji had an issue of non-communicable diseases which was quite prevalent all over the Pacific.
He added there was a need to have a group of interdisciplinary teams of health people and people in the area of wellbeing and development to work together.
