The Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community has called on the region's Health Ministers to consider developing an overarching framework for health development in the Pacific.
Dr Jimmie Rodgers made the call at the opening ceremony of the Tenth Pacific Health Ministers Meeting in Apia, Samoa.
Delegates from about 20 Pacific Island countries are attending this week's meeting.
Dr Rodgers urged Health Ministers to establish an annual regional meeting of directors and secretaries of health to advise on strategic policy issues relating to health development in the region.
He told the Ministers that they have an opportunity to pursue public health policies that can enhance the status and quality of a service or a system for Pacific communities, nations and the region as a whole.
