Improving Health Care for Pacific Islanders

MEDIA RELEASE

Released By:
Downer

I am pleased to announce the Howard
Government's further assistance to improve medical services for people living in
the Pacific Islands.

Australia will provide $3.7 million over
three years to fund the second stage of a six-year health care project which
supports Australian medical volunteers to perform much needed operations and
training for local doctors.

While the overall health of the almost
three million people living in the Pacific Islands (excluding PNG) is improving,
major problems exist. Many people suffer from severe medical conditions because
they are unable to access surgical treatment. Local medical services are often
ill-equipped and there is a general shortage of skilled medical personnel.

Australian volunteer doctors and nurses,
under the supervision of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, work in
teams of up to four people visiting island countries for two week periods to
carry out much needed surgical procedures.

The project is a cost-effective
alternative to other treatment options such as bringing patients to Australia
for surgery. Since 1995, approximately 300 doctors have conducted about 13,000
consultations and 3,000 operations in fields such as cardiac surgery, neurology,
opthamology, paediatrics, reconstructive surgery and radiology.

Over the next three years this pattern
will continue. In addition approximately 1,500 indigenous medical personnel will
receive on-the-job training and Australian experts will run courses in primary
trauma care and anaesthesia.

This initiative complements other
Australian-funded health projects in the Pacific, which target health
management, HIV/AIDS and the prevention and treatment of non-communicable
diseases. It will be administered through the Australian Government's overseas
aid agency, AusAID.