Second Meeting of Pacific National Focal Points for the International Health Regulations, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 14-16 October 2008: report

The Second Meeting of Pacific National Focal Points for the International Health Regulations (lHR) (2005) reviewed progress made by Pacific island countries and areas (PICs) in the assessment of capacities and development and implementation of work plans to give effect to the core capacities under lHR (2005) and the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED). Thirty countries in the Asia Pacific Region, including all PICs, have conducted APSED capacity assessments. More than 20 countries, including 10 PICs, have developed detailed implementation plans based on these assessments. While considerable progress has been made in identifying and strengthening priority areas, several capacity gaps still need to be addressed before the Pacific region can have an adequate level of collective health security.