APEC Health Ministers' Meeting Concludes

The APEC Health Ministers' Meeting concluded today with APEC's 21 Member Economies agreeing that any threat to the health of a population can have a devastating effect on prosperity.

Downloads Available:

Chair of the APEC Health Ministers' Meeting and Australia's Minister for Health, Hon. Tony Abbott MHR, said events since the first APEC Health Ministers Meeting in 2003 have shown the consequences that outbreaks of infectious disease, especially zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza, can have on growing economies.

"The impact is greater when diseases strike at those in their most productive years," Mr. Abbott said.

"We have also learnt that the climate of fear that disease outbreaks such as avian influenza bring can rapidly sap the confidence and enterprise that underpins the economic dynamism of our region.

"Member Economies have shared their considerable experiences and knowledge in pandemic disease preparedness and have endorsed the APEC Functioning Economies in times of Pandemic Guidelines, a resource to assist in improving regional capacity for emergency management."

The Guidelines cover planning and preparedness, communications and information, essential services and vital supplies, financial systems and movement between and within economies. The Guidelines provide a comprehensive approach to manage and support APEC Economies and their business sectors in times of pandemic, encouraging investor and consumer confidence and economic and community recovery and growth in the post pandemic phase.