Health Working Group - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
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Health Working Group (Health Task Force)

  

The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the Asia Pacific Region during 2003 and avian influenza H5N1 in 2004 has shown the impact that health challenges can have across a broad range of sectors, including public health, agriculture, trade, tourism, transportation, and business. APEC's leadership in the region and its wide-ranging economic work program make it uniquely suited to address the multi-sectoral impact of today's health threats.

Senior Officials responded to calls in 2003 from both Health Ministers and delegates from APEC's Industrial Science and Technology Working Group to establish a mechanism to address health within APEC more efficiently and effectively. In October 2003 the ad hoc Health Task Force (HTF) was established to address health-related threats to economies' trade and security, focusing mainly on emerging infectious diseases, including naturally occurring and man-made diseases. The Task Force implements APEC's health-related activities as directed by Leaders, Ministers and Senior Officials including activities contained in the Health Security Initiative of 2003.

The co-sponsored initiative "Enhancement of APEC Work on Preventing, Preparing for and Mitigating the Effects of Avian Influenza and Influenza Pandemic" was endorsed in 2005 and the HTF was tasked to undertake necessary action for implementation.

The mandate of the HTF was originally in place until 2007. At SOM II 2007, Senior Officials endorsed the transformation of the Health Task Force to the Health Working Group (HWG) in 2008. The Terms of Reference for the HWG was discussed at the 6th HTF meeting held on 5-6 June 2007 in Sydney, and will be up for endorsement at SOM I 2008.


Achievements

APEC guidelines to ensure that economies continue to function in times of pandemic and guidelines to help create a supportive environment in the workplace for workers living with HIV/AIDS were further endorsed in the statement of 2007 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Sydney.

Three project proposals were endorsed at the January 2007 meeting:
  • Implementation of APEC Action Plan on the Prevention and Response to Avian and Influenza Pandemics: Progress and Work Ahead
  • Pandemic Risk Communications: Building Capacity in International Media and Stakeholder Relations
  • The APEC Training for Program Managers on TB/HIV
The Symposium on Functioning Economies in Times of Pandemic was held on 10-11 September 2006. The symposium discussed issues aimed at assisting APEC member economies to maintain economic activities and reduce business disruption in the event of a pandemic. The APEC Functioning Economies in Times of Pandemic Guidelines were endorsed by the HTF at its 6th meeting held in Sydney.

Several APEC funded projects addressing avian influenza have been successfully held in 2006. The APEC Capacity Building Seminar on Avian Influenza: Preventing AI at its Source and a Dialogue on Indemnity was held on 12-13 September 2006. The Seminar increased information sharing and collaboration amongst animal and human health officials to minimize animal outbreaks. Lessons were also learned about the tools and resources to design and implement indemnity programs to promote domestic surveillance and eradication programs for trans-boundary animal disease like avian influenza.

The APEC HTF Seminar on Assessing Pandemic Preparedness Plans held on 16-17 August, 2006 provided a framework for assisting developing member economies in making decisions on how to assess their domestic pandemic preparedness plans.

The APEC Ministerial Meeting on Avian and Influenza Pandemics was held in Da Nang, Viet Nam on 4-6 May 2006. The APEC Action Plan on the Prevention and Response to Avian and Influenza Pandemics was endorsed by Ministers. The Action Plan commits APEC economies to working individually and cooperatively to develop practical approaches and prepare for and mitigate the impact of avian influenza and possible influenza pandemic.

A workshop on the Implementation of the Action Plan was then held on 7-8 May 2007 in Ha Noi. Member economies shared information and experiences on the implementation of the Action Plan, and identified capacity building needs for ensuring the effective and successful implementation of the Action Plan.

The Pandemic Risk Communication Workshop was held on 2-3 May 2006. It highlighted the importance and understanding of enhancing regional coordination in risk communication, build risk communication capacity among APEC member economies, and encouraged members to develop communications strategies as part of pandemic preparedness planning.

The Symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases was successfully held on 4-5 April 2006 in Beijing, China. It brought together senior officials as well as medical and health experts to discuss ongoing technical aspects and work being undertaken to combat the threat of emerging infectious disease. Realizing that in the Asia-Pacific region there exists weakness and gaps in such areas as surveillance and response, communication, and coordination, mutual assistance and cooperation among member economies, the Symposium endorsed the Beijing Consensus which addressed the existing problems and will further enhance member economies' efforts to address the threats posed to public health by infectious disease.

The first APEC Virtual Symposium on Pandemic Preparedness was held on 19 January 2006 by APEC Emerging Infectious Network (EINet).

Current Activities

Leaders of APEC Member Economies also agreed in September 2007 to support the sharing of influenza specimens in a timely manner and to promote transparent, fair and equitable access to vaccines and other benefits that derive from them.

The second APEC Health Ministers Meeting was held on 7-8 June 2007 in Sydney, Australia. The meeting resulted in the release of the Health Ministers' Meeting Outcomes Statement. The Statement endorses the APEC Functioning Economies in Times of Pandemic Guidelines and the Guidelines for Creating an Enabling Environment for Employers to Implement Effective Workplace Practice for People Living with HIV/AIDS.

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Health Working Group - Key Contacts
Chair
Ms. Bersabel Ephrem
Director General,
International Affairs Directorate Health Policy Branch
Health Canada 200 Eglantine Driveway
3rd Floor, Room A321
Jeanne Mance Building Postal Locator
1903B Tunney's Pasture Ottawa
Ontario
Canada K1A 0K9
Tel: (613) 941-3335
Fax: (613) 952-7417
E-mail: bersabel_ephrem@hc-sc.gc.ca


APEC Secretariat
Mr Vincent Liu
Director (Program)
E-mail: jyl@apec.org