Healthy progress in Western Pacific

The World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region is home to more than 2.2 billion people — over a quarter of the world's population. It is one of the most diverse regions on Earth. The region stretches from mountains to the sea, from deserts to dense forests. It includes some of the world's largest and most complex health systems, alongside some of the smallest and most resource limited systems. More than 1,000 ethnic groups and languages are represented here. Populations range from rapidly aging societies to countries with overwhelmingly young populations.

This extraordinary diversity is our strength — but it is also our challenge. Health outcomes across the Western Pacific reflect this complexity. According to WHO's Universal Health Coverage service coverage index, access to health care ranges from around 30 in some low-resource settings to nearly 90 in high-income economies, with wide disparities even within individual countries.

Communicable diseases remain a major concern. Each year, the region accounts for over 2 million new tuberculosis cases, yet only a few countries have achieved the recommended 90 percent treatment coverage.

At the same time, noncommunicable diseases — driven by tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, air pollution and physical inactivity — now account for around 80 percent of all deaths in the region.

New and emerging threats add further complexity. The Western Pacific is among the regions most vulnerable to climate change. In Pacific Island countries, more than 60 percent of health facilities are located within 500 meters of coastlines, placing them at risk from rising sea levels and extreme weather. Health systems must cope not only with existing disease burdens, but also with increasingly frequent disruptions.

But artificial intelligence now offers the promise of transforming health care — helping us reach people who have long been left behind — while also demanding clear ethical guardrails to ensure these powerful tools serve the common good.

Against this backdrop, countries across the region have come together around a shared vision: "Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies". This vision is not abstract. It draws on the cultural metaphor of weaving a mat — bringing together many different strands, each with its own strength, to create something resilient and enduring. It reflects a practical approach to health that emphasizes equity, coordination across sectors and health as a foundation for social and economic development.

The results speak for themselves.

Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam have eliminated blinding trachoma as a public health problem. WHO has verified that all 21 Pacific island countries and areas have eliminated endemic measles and rubella. The Western Pacific has remained polio-free since 2000, marking 25 years without indigenous wild polio-virus.

In this shared journey, China plays an important and growing role. China's domestic health achievements offer valuable lessons for the region. Life expectancy has now reached 79 years. In 2021, China was certified malaria-free by WHO, and its successful approach has been incorporated into the WHO technical guidance as a model for other countries.

China's national action plan on health adaptation to climate change demonstrates strong leadership by recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal and ecosystem health. These achievements rest on a nationwide healthcare delivery network and a health insurance system that covers more than 95 percent of the population.

China recently released its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which gives high priority to health and well-being. It is a powerful signal at a time when many parts of the world are reducing investment in health and reflects an understanding that health is not a cost, but a foundation for prosperity.

China is also contributing to health and well-being far beyond its borders. It hosts over 60 of WHO's more than 800 collaborating centers, supporting research, training and knowledge exchange across the region. It supplied COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic to other countries and continues to support WHO emergency stockpiles, enabling rapid responses to health crises.

WHO is working closely with China's National Institute of Parasitic Diseases to help Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic eliminate schistosomiasis, a disease that has burdened communities for generations. These contributions illustrate what is possible — and what can be strengthened further.

With just four years remaining to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the Western Pacific stands at a critical moment. Accelerating progress now is essential, and China has the potential to make an even greater contribution to regional health.

There is a Chinese saying that also resonates deeply in the Pacific, including in my homeland of Tonga — passengers who share the same boat must help one another. A healthier Western Pacific is that shared boat. Now is the time for WHO and China to work even more closely together — to navigate the challenges ahead and to reach our common destination: Health for All.

The author is the WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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