The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry of Health and Sports of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar convened the 2^nd Greater Mekong Sub-region Working Group on Health Cooperation Meeting (GMS-WGHC2 meeting) on 10-11 December in Yangon. The meeting was hosted by Myanmar.

 
2^nd Greater Mekong Sub-region Working Group on Health Cooperation

 

At the GMS-WGHC2 Meeting, the core members of the Working Group on Health Cooperation from the six GMS countries, development partners, and Civil Society Organization (CSOs) networks in the sub-region (1) reviewed the progress of the GMS Health Cooperation Strategy  for the period of 2019 and 2023, particularly the preparations for the health ministers’ approval, (2) discussed how country level health plans complement and support the Strategy, (3) reviewed the current Regional Investment Framework (RIF), discussed and defined potential project ideas; (4) and agreed on WGHC activities for 2019, which may be supported by the newly approved Technical Assistant (TA) for strengthening regional health cooperation.

 

The GMS Health Cooperation Strategy provides a framework to guide the collective efforts of Mekong countries in tackling health issues affecting the sub-region. Regional cooperation under the health cooperation strategy will focus on three priority concerns: (i) improved GMS health system performance in responding to public health threats, (ii) strengthened protection for vulnerable communities from the health impacts of regional integration; and (iii) enhanced human resource capacity to respond to priority health issues in the GMS.

It comprises three pillars, including: Health security as a regional public good, Health impacts of connectivity and mobility, and Health workforce development. Programming areas under each pillar constitute the operational priorities of the Strategy and the basis for project development.

Three themes (policy convergence, gender mainstreaming, and inclusive and equitable development) cut across each pillar. Health cooperation is enhanced by five enabling factors: (i) synergies between regional platforms and programs, (ii) stakeholder engagement, (iii) research and knowledge products, (iv) information and communications technology, and (v) cross-sector cooperation and coordination.

Formal endorsement of the strategy by the GMS Health Ministers is envisioned in early 2019.

 

Head of Viet Nam’s Delegation delivered opening remarks at the GMS-WGHC2 Meeting

 

At the 2^nd Greater Mekong Sub-region Working Group on Health Cooperation Meeting, Viet Nam’s Delegation had a presentation on the linkage and harmonization between National Health Plan (NHP) and GMS Health Cooperation. Viet Nam also proposed 04 potential project focusing on: (1) GMS Health Security Additional Financing, (2) Development of two Medical Device Quality Assurance/Quality Calibration (QA/QC) Centers in the GMS Region, (3) Strengthening of Global Health Network to promote and sustain health security in the region, and (4) Research on the possible emerging impacts of trade on health during implementation process in the GMS region.​