The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (May 21, Geneva time) attended the 71st World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Professor Chan attended the 71st WHA as a member of the People's Republic of China delegation. The agenda of this year's assembly covers a wide range of issues with public health importance requiring global attention and concerted efforts from all member states. Among others, a number of strategic priority matters will be discussed in the meeting, including public health preparedness and response, health and environment and climate change, prevention and control of non-communicable disease, ending tuberculosis and global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines.
Professor Chan also took the opportunity to exchange views on healthcare-related issues with top health officials of other member states.
Before attending the WHA, Professor Chan and the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, yesterday (May 20, Geneva time) met with the Minister of the National Health Commission, Mr Ma Xiaowei, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, Mr Yu Jianhua. Professor Chan briefed Mr Ma and Mr Yu on the latest healthcare-related developments in Hong Kong, including the planning of the first Chinese medicine hospital.
Professor Chan will depart Geneva in the morning on May 23 and arrive in Hong Kong on May 24.
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