PHILIPPINE House Committee on Health chairman Batanes Lone District Rep. Ciriaco Gato was among the Asia-Pacific lawmakers who called for a strengthened health care workforce during the 8th Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Forum on Global Health held in Vanuatu from September 4 to 6 in Port Vila.
The event was hosted by the Parliament of Vanuatu and supported by the Vanuatu Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.
In a statement to The Manila Times, Gato said that he is one with the forum in issuing the communiqué strengthening the regional and national health care workforce.
“After thorough discussions, we — the member states — have committed to working together and collaborating further to address the issues of health care worker migration and health service accessibility for remote areas and GIDAs (Geographically Isolated and Distressed Areas),” Gato added.
In his remarks, Simeon Davidson Seoule, speaker of the Vanuatu National Parliament, emphasized the crucial role of a strong health workforce in building a resilient health system.
“A resilient health system depends on a well-functioning workforce that includes nurses, doctors, community health workers and specialists. To effectively support our communities and provide the care they need throughout their lives, we must ensure that our health workers are well-supported and equipped,” Seoule said.
He added that parliamentarians have a critical role in shaping health policies and ensuring that health systems are well-funded and well-managed.
“This includes creating and enacting stronger laws and creating support systems that address the needs of our health workers, enabling them to deliver the best possible care to our communities,” Seoule said.
According to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, the meeting presented the latest evidence on the health workforce in the region and enabled discussion on strengthening health workforce policy, in line with its regional framework to shape a health workforce for the future of the Western Pacific.
The parliamentarians also had the opportunity to visit local health facilities, where they spoke with health workers and discussed the various challenges of providing care across different settings.
“These highlight the dedication and commitment of health workers and underscore the urgent need for better support and resources for them, especially for those working in rural and underserved areas — issues shared across the Asia-Pacific region,” the regional office said.
Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific Region, said that the success of the region’s health systems relies on having a workforce that is well-prepared and supported.
“It is vital for parliaments to use their functions to advance health workforce development to ensure that our health systems can meet the needs of all people in the region,” Piukala said.
Aside from Gato, the other countries who participated in the forum include speakers, members of parliaments, and ministers from Cambodia, Cook Islands, Niue, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Vietnam.
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