Health and Finance Officials attend Health Systems Flagship Course in Fiji

For the first time, senior officials from both the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury have recently attended a Health Systems Flagship Programme in Nadi, Fiji

The objective of the Flagship Core Course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing is to help participants think strategically and systematically about health sector reform and the challenges in achieving that reform. The course is not a deep dive for any specific technical area, rather it seeks to help participants better understand the complexity behind policy making and challenges of implementation to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The Flagship Core Course presents a foundation for conceptualizing a systems-based approach to health. The course recommends a systems-based approach to identify the necessary policy

levers for achieving desired health system objectives. Rather than offering a prescriptive predetermined list of interventions,

the course presents options to policy makers. It enables them to consider the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches. It helps course

MHMS and MOFT Officials during a country work discussions. 

participants to define their challenges. It provides them with information that enables them to come to their own decisions.

The Permanent Secretary of Health, Ms. Pauline McNeil who led the joint team highlighted “that by having our officials from MOFT to also attend the course is essential particularly in view of the fact that the Ministry of Finance collects and manages the government revenues while the Ministry of Health executes and implements the government services. It is important that at such regional platforms as this, that we are at the same table together to discuss matters of mutual concern”

The Health Secretary further highlighted the importance of the programme between the partner Ministries officials mentioning that “Most importantly, is that the programme not only is an opportunity for all of us, Health and Finance, to learn different and new concepts all together

From L to R: Dr Mesu, World Bank Health Specialist, Ms Benny Teauea, Health Secretary of Kiribati, Ms Francyne Wase- Jacklick Health Secretary of the Republic of Marshall Islands and Ms Pauline McNeil, Health Secretary SI

and be on the same page but also jointly discussing the problems and issues relating to health systems such as health financing, primary health care, community engagement,  good governance and digital health in our context and the challenges that come with them, and as much as possible discussing and getting to the root causes, and most importantly is collectively as a team on how best officials can establish winning strategies and finding effective solutions in our context”

The Flagship Core Course has been in existence for 25 years. The course has been delivered to 36,000+ participants in 70+ countries. The Health Systems Flagship programme in Nadi was the first in the region and brought in more than 70 government officials (Health and Finance) who attended the one-week programme. The Programme was made possible with the financial support by the World Bank and the Government of Australia.