S. Korea, Pacific Islands to discuss health care cooperation

▲ This file photo shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (4th from R) talking with leaders from Pacific Island countries during a luncheon in New York on Sept. 22, 2023. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Pacific Islands-health ties

S. Korea, Pacific Islands to discuss health care cooperation

SEOUL, Nov. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Pacific Island nations will hold an inaugural meeting this week to discuss ways to boost cooperation in the health care and medical sectors, Seoul's health ministry said Monday.

The three-day meeting, set to kick off Tuesday in Seoul, will bring together officials from the nine Pacific Islands of Micronesia, Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, as well as officials from the World Health Organization and experts, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

During the meeting, the two sides will explore how to strengthen cooperation in the health care and medical fields through South Korea's official development assistance and other programs and how to advance universal health coverage in the countries in the Pacific Ocean.

The attendees will also discuss digital health technologies and the overall public health management system, the ministry said.

"The inaugural meeting is meant to seek joint responses to challenges we are facing in the health care sector. South Korea will share related experiences with the Pacific Island nations to help advance their health systems," a ministry official said.

The Pacific Islands have been working to provide quality health services to people dispersed across dozens of island groups amid logistics and financial challenges, according to officials.

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