The Torres Strait Cross Border Health Issues Committee (HIC) met in Cairns, Australia, on Thursday 28 April 2016. The HIC is a biannual forum to identify health issues arising in the Torres Strait Protected Zone and South Fly coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG), and members work collaboratively to identify appropriate strategies and resources to address these concerns.

Members welcomed a number of new members, including from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Queensland Department of Health. Members also thanked the valued services of departing members to the HIC Committee and sadly noted the passing of Mr Richard Aria from PNG Western Province Administration.

Members endorsed the minutes of the meeting of 8 October 2015 and noted progress on actions arising from previous meetings.

The Committee acknowledged that there has been significant progress made on the tuberculosis (TB) Emergency Response since the Western Pacific Regional Green Light Committee (rGLC) mission to PNG in May 2015 and the release of K8 million by the PNG Government in January 2016. However, there remain significant challenges including the lack of release of the remaining PNG funding to control the spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively-drug resistant (XDR) TB in PNG. Shortage of PNG Government funding also continues to pose a challenge for proceeding with building works, including upgrades to the Bula, Buzi, Mari and Sigabadaru Aid Posts to Community Health Posts.

Members noted DFAT's ongoing support for TB management, health infrastructure and drought related issues in Western Province, PNG. Construction of the new Mabaduan Health Centre has been delayed due to the land acquisition process not being completed and members urged the relevant Western Province authorities to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service provided an update on the TB awareness and education activities it is undertaking in the Torres Strait Protected Zone and PNG Treaty Villages using Commonwealth funding. Members noted some initial data analysis from the Best Practice Electronic Medical System and noted that the new Torres and Cape Tuberculosis Unit commenced operations on 4 January 2016.

The importance of communication was discussed, particularly between clinicians and traditional inhabitants. In this regard, it was noted that communication between the Queensland Department of Health and Saibai residents would be further pursued following the meeting. The Committee also agreed to consider a request from the Torres Strait Communications Officer to recruit a Communications Officer in Daru.

The Australian Border Force provided advice on the Clinical Collaboration Group's request for the HIC to investigate options for facilitating cross border medical evacuations and members noted that further work was needed to resolve this issue.

The HIC also noted reports from:

• the Clinical Collaboration Group meeting held on 27 April 2016;
• Queensland Government Department of Health on: TB, communicable disease surveillance and Zika virus, noting that there are systems in place to identify patients acutely infected with Zika virus and ensure a public health response;
• PNG's Provincial Health Office: on health activities in the South Fly District of Western Province, noting reduced outreach activities due to human resource and funding constraints as well as transportation and communication challenges; and
• Daru General Hospital on the progress made and the remaining gaps needed to support Daru General Hospital to provide the required support to rural health services.

The next HIC meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 2016 in the margins of the Torres Strait Joint Advisory Council (JAC) in a location to be determined.