APEC ministers discuss investing in human capital, promoting healthy lifestyles, and maternal and child health
APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Ministers met in Vladivostok, Russia on 5-6 September, 2012.
A Joint Statement was issued. Items on investing in human capital, promoting healthy lifestyles, and maternal and child health are highlighted below.
Excerpt from the Statement
50. Recognizing that investments in health at all stages of life from pre-natal through aging are investments in the future, we welcome work to promote concrete steps to promote investment in human health including preventing and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases and promoting health and healthy lifestyles in APEC economies.
51. We support improving health, especially maternal and child health, as a source of dynamic growth and basis for the future healthy adolescence and aging in APEC economies and acknowledge the importance of ongoing strengthening of health sectors and pandemic preparedness. We note that innovations in diagnoses prevention, treatment, and disease management to support health are a source of dynamic growth, and that investment in healthcare, especially maternal and child health, as the basis for the future healthy adolescence and aging in APEC economies. We also acknowledge the importance of ongoing strengthening of health systems and pandemic preparedness and response.
52. We instruct officials to work with stakeholders to identify high-impact investments along the life course that will yield commensurate economic and social returns and report findings to us in 2015. We also instruct officials to work with stakeholders to prioritize access by mothers and children to quality health care, including preventive interventions from pre-natal period and during their life. We welcome work to address the economic and public health burden of healthcare associated infections. We encourage officials to work with stakeholders to reduce the incidence of infections in healthcare settings.