AGP Executive Report

Pacific Health Strategy: ADB’s new five-year plan covers Tuvalu and 11 other Pacific nations, prioritizing better access to health care alongside jobs, essential services and climate-resilient infrastructure. Climate and Health: WHO warns Pacific health systems face mounting pressure from climate change, staff shortages and limited funding; seven Pacific countries have yet to include health in their national climate plans. Medicine Access: Tuvalu supports a proposed regional pooled-buying pilot for essential medicines, which could help islands facing unreliable access to basic drugs. Digital Health: Tuvalu health officials joined a Taiwan forum on digital care, including the use of AI and electronic medical records.

Pacific Health Services: A new five-year Asian Development Bank strategy for Tuvalu and 11 other Pacific countries prioritizes access to health care and climate-resilient infrastructure, while adapting projects to the high costs and distinct needs of island communities. Climate and Health: WHO warns that climate change, workforce shortages and funding constraints are adding pressure to Pacific health systems; seven Pacific countries have yet to include health in their national climate plans. Access to Medicines: Tuvalu has backed a WHO proposal for pooled purchasing of essential medicines, which could help address gaps in reliable access across the region. Chronic Disease: Solomon Islands is urging a stronger regional response to high blood pressure, a major risk for heart disease and stroke, with remote communities facing barriers to screening and ongoing care.

Climate and Health: As COP31 approaches, Türkiye says adaptation must move from plans to funded action, with climate change threatening water, food security and public health—especially in small island states. Pacific Health Systems: WHO warns climate pressures, workforce shortages and limited funding are straining Pacific services; seven island countries have yet to include health in their climate plans. Access to Medicines: Tuvalu supports a WHO-backed proposal for pooled purchasing of essential medicines, which could help Pacific countries facing unreliable access and high costs. Hypertension: Solomon Islands is urging stronger, coordinated action on high blood pressure, citing barriers to screening and long-term care in remote communities—a challenge shared across the region.

Regional Health: Solomon Islands is urging a stronger, coordinated response to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Remote communities, staff shortages and limited resources hinder screening and care across the region. Food Safety: Pacific fisheries officers are training to meet export health and quality standards; the programme includes work with Tuvalu to help maintain access to overseas markets. Essential Medicines: Tuvalu supports a WHO-backed proposal to pool purchases of essential medicines, which could improve access and affordability for Pacific countries. Climate and Care: WHO warns that climate risks, workforce shortages and funding pressures are straining Pacific health systems, and says seven Pacific countries have yet to include health in national climate plans. Digital Health: Tuvalu officials joined Taiwan’s health forum on digital care, where discussions covered AI, data protection and healthcare technology.

Health System Pressures: WHO says Pacific health services face growing strain from climate change, workforce shortages and limited funding. Seven Pacific countries have yet to include health in their climate plans; support is helping Fiji and Kiribati prepare facilities and services for climate risks. Access to Medicines: Tuvalu has backed Malaysia’s proposal for a pooled procurement pilot to improve access to essential medicines, alongside Palau, Samoa and Tonga. Papua New Guinea and the Marshall Islands offered to host the pilot. Food Safety: A Suva training programme is helping Pacific officials strengthen fish inspection, traceability and export standards. Organisers say they are working with Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands to support access to overseas markets.

Health System Resilience: WHO says Pacific health services face mounting climate, workforce and funding pressures. It is helping Fiji and Kiribati strengthen climate readiness, while seven Pacific countries have yet to include health in national climate plans. Access to Medicines: Tuvalu backed a WHO proposal for a pooled purchase of essential medicines, aimed at improving access to safe, affordable supplies across the region. Food Safety: Tuvalu is among countries receiving support to strengthen seafood export checks, with regional training covering inspection, traceability and certification. Digital Health: Tuvalu joined health officials from 10 other countries at a Taiwan forum on digital care, where discussions included AI, data security and electronic medical records.

Heart Health: Solomon Islands is urging a stronger, coordinated response to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Remote communities, staff shortages and limited resources make screening and ongoing treatment difficult—a challenge shared across the Pacific. Health System Pressure: WHO warns climate change, workforce gaps and tight funding are adding strain to Pacific health services, and says seven island countries have yet to include health in national climate plans. Access to Medicines: Tuvalu supports a proposed WHO pooled purchasing pilot that could help Pacific countries secure essential medicines more reliably and affordably. Food Safety: Tuvalu is among the countries receiving support to strengthen seafood inspection and export standards, protecting consumers while helping maintain access to overseas markets. Prevention and Care: A regional health forum in Taiwan featured digital health cooperation, with Tuvalu among the participating countries. Separately, a Pacific surgeon urged healthier diets and more activity to reduce heart risks, while highlighting specialist cardiac care provided to patients from Tuvalu and other island nations.

Heart Health: Solomon Islands is urging a stronger regional response to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Remote communities, staff shortages and limited resources make screening and long-term care harder to access. Food Safety: Pacific fisheries officers are training in export inspections, traceability and certification. Organisers say they are working with Tuvalu to help maintain access to overseas markets. Climate & Health: WHO warns that climate change, workforce shortages and limited funding are straining Pacific health systems. Seven Pacific island countries have yet to include health in their national climate plans. Essential Medicines: Tuvalu supports a proposed pooled purchasing scheme aimed at improving access to affordable medicines. Papua New Guinea and the Marshall Islands have offered to pilot the plan.

Food Safety: Tuvalu is among the countries receiving support to improve access to overseas fish markets, while Pacific officers train on inspections, traceability and food safety standards. Climate and Health: WHO says Pacific health systems face growing pressure from climate change, workforce shortages and limited funding; seven Pacific countries have yet to include health in their national climate plans. Essential Medicines: Tuvalu backed Malaysia’s proposal for a pooled procurement pilot, which could improve access to affordable medicines across the region. Prevention and Care: A Pacific heart specialist warned that diets high in salt, sugar and processed foods raise the risk of heart disease. Tuvaluans are among patients from the region who have received specialist heart-valve treatment in Fiji.

Climate and Health: WHO says Pacific health systems face rising climate risks, workforce shortages and tight budgets; seven Pacific island countries have yet to include health in their national climate plans. Medicine Access: Tuvalu has backed a WHO proposal for Pacific countries to jointly procure essential medicines, aiming to improve access to safe, affordable supplies. Island Services: ADB’s new five-year Pacific strategy includes Tuvalu and puts climate resilience, stronger institutions and reliable essential services at its centre. Digital Health: Tuvalu joined health officials from 10 other countries at a Taiwan forum on using digital technology in healthcare, with attention to privacy and data security. Heart Health: A regional surgeon warns that diets high in salt, sugar and processed foods, along with inactivity, increase heart disease risks; Tuvaluans have also received specialist valve surgery through a regional programme.

Regional Investment: ADB’s new five-year Pacific strategy includes Tuvalu, with plans to strengthen resilience and improve essential services for island communities. Digital Health: Tuvalu joined health officials from 10 other countries at a Taiwan forum on using AI and digital tools in healthcare, with speakers stressing privacy and data security. Heart Health: A Pacific surgeon urged healthier eating, exercise and regular checks to prevent heart disease; Tuvaluans are among patients who have received specialist heart-valve treatment in Fiji. Food and Nutrition: A regional report found families in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands can spend more than four days’ wages on basic foods, leaving less for healthcare and other needs.

Digital Health: Tuvalu took part in Taiwan’s Global Health and Welfare Forum, where officials discussed AI and digital care alongside safeguards for privacy, data security and transparent governance. Heart Health: A Fiji-based surgeon urged Pacific communities to choose healthier food, stay active and get regular check-ups to reduce heart disease risk. His hospital has treated Tuvalu patients among 30 people from seven Pacific nations. Food and Nutrition: A World Vision report found families in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands can spend more than four days’ wages on basic foods; it also warned that one in six Pacific children under five is malnourished.

Digital Health: Tuvalu joined officials from 10 other countries at Taiwan’s Global Health and Welfare Forum, focused on using AI and digital tools to improve care. Taiwan’s health minister stressed that better technology must go hand in hand with privacy, data security and transparent oversight. Heart Health: A Pacific surgeon urged healthier eating, regular exercise and check-ups to help prevent heart disease. He warned that poor diets and inactivity raise risks including high blood pressure and diabetes; Tuvaluans are among Pacific patients treated for heart-valve problems at a Fiji hospital.

Medicine Access: Pacific officials say financing shortfalls and aging ships threaten reliable transport between islands, where vessels carry essential supplies, including medicine. Climate and Health: SPC reports US$129.9 million in new climate funding approvals, including US$17.89 million for resilience to climate-related health risks in Micronesia. Heart Health: A Pacific surgeon urges healthier diets, regular exercise and health checks to prevent heart disease; specialist care in Fiji has included valve procedures for patients from Tuvalu and six other Pacific nations. Food and Nutrition: A World Vision report highlights the strain on families in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, who may need to work more than four days to afford basic food; it also warns that one in six Pacific children under five is malnourished.

Climate and Health: Pacific leaders are pressing for climate finance and stronger resilience ahead of COP31, as rising seas threaten Tuvalu and El Niño raises risks of heat, drought and flooding. The Pacific Community reported US$129.9 million in new climate funding approvals, including a project to address climate-related health risks in the Federated States of Micronesia. Heart Health: A Pacific surgeon says poor diets and inactivity raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Tuvaluans are among patients from seven island nations who have received specialist heart-valve treatment in Fiji; the surgeon says healthier habits and regular check-ups can help prevent serious illness.

Climate and Health: As Pacific leaders prepare for COP31, former Fiji ambassador Satyendra Prasad says the Fiji-Tuvalu Pre-COP must help secure climate finance and protect vulnerable communities. He has called for health centres across the region to be moved to higher ground as sea levels rise. Food and Nutrition: A World Vision report says families in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands must work more than four days to afford basic food, while one in six Pacific children under five is malnourished. Heart Health: A Pacific surgeon urges healthier diets, regular exercise and check-ups to prevent heart disease. Tuvaluans are among patients from seven Pacific nations who have received heart-valve treatment in Fiji.