High-level Forum on Health MDGs inAsia and the Pacific Program Tuesday, 21 June (Day 1) 9:30-17:30 09:30-10:00 Opening of the High-level Forum Statement by the Government of Japan Statement on behalf of cooperating organizationsCo-hosting Chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan 10:00-12:15 (CoffeeBreak in-between) Session 1 Review of progress on health MDGs in Asia and the Pacific region Overview Presentation by the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Presentation I Country Presentation II Chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan 12:30-14:00 Lunch hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan 14:15-17:30 (CoffeeBreak in-between) Session 2 Parallel Group sessions on key cross cutting issues Group Session A Strengthening health systems through capacity development Analysis of the current situation and key challenges in the achievement of the health MDGs shows that the technical interventions are, in fact, available. What is often critically missing are effective health systems that can ensure that these interventions are delivered to those most in need. In particular, effective interventions are failing to reach the most vulnerable groups. Countries need to ensure sustainable public investment in the essential public health functions. This session will explore the key health systems challenges facing countries in the region today in the context of their efforts to achieve the health MDGs. Country Presentation I Country Presentation II Chaired by WHO Among the issues that can be discussed: - establishing an effective health system through prioritized actions - strengthening management capacity of health systems - better planning for human resources development and upgrading of skills - promoting public-private partnership Group Session B Promoting cross sectoral actions to achieve the health MDGs It is well recognized that health is significantly determined by social and other non-health determinants. However, `the corollary notion that non-health sector actions are needed to successfully address health challenges is not always equally well appreciated. This session will thus examine how synergies in health outcomes can be achieved by a range of interventions across non-health sectors. In particular, it will consider examples where the institutional mechanisms have successfully been put into place to steer cross-sectoral actions to improve health. Country Presentation I Country Presentation II Chaired by theAsian Development Bank (ADB) Among the issues that can be discussed: - synergy between education and health - synergy between water/sanitation and health - synergy between other sectors and health 18:00-20:00 Reception hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Wednesday, 22 June (Day 2) 09:30-16:00 09:30-12:45 (CoffeeBreak in-between) [Continuance of Session 2 Parallel Group sessions on key cross cutting issues ] Group Session C Securing resources and raising increasing effectiveness to achieve the health MDGs Current resources for health fall far short of need. Even available resources are not always optimally allocated. This comes at a time when the need for scaling up programme is putting already weak health systems under increasing strain. In this context, it is important to mobilize domestic as well as external resources. Health investments need to be closely aligned to broader national development processes, such as the PRSPs or other socio-economic development planning. Equally, aid needs to become more predictable and donor harmonization initiatives need strengthening. This session will discuss issues of resource mobilization, aid effectiveness and harmonization. Overview Presentation by the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Country Presentation I Country Presentation II Chaired by WB Among the issues that can be discussed: - securing adequate resources and resource allocation - mobilizing domestic resources including the role of local governments - using resources more effectively including through alignment to country strategies and aid coordination Group Session D Promoting equity in access to quality health services in each country Many countries in the region are making good progress in achieving the health MDGs. However, recent decades have also witnessed a widening of health inequalities and increasing inequities in access to quality health services. Hence, it may be possible for some countries to achieve the health MDGs while still having areas or populations experiencing poor outcomes. At the same time analysis suggests that increasing inequalities may themselves hamper the efforts of countries to achieve the MDGs. This session will discuss key dimensions of equity in relation to the health MDGs and consider ways to close the widening gaps. Overview Presentation by WB Country Presentation I Country Presentation II Chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Among the issues that can be discussed: - various causes of disparities in access to quality health services in each country - dealing with disparity between urban and rural areas - dealing with disparity caused by other factors such as gender -dealing with decentralization Lunch hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan (13:00-14:00) 14:15-15:45 Session 3 Way forward to achieve the health MDGs Presentations of summary by the chairs of the four Group Sessions (followed by discussion on how to strengthen international cooperation to make further progress towards the health MDGs) Chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Discussion can focus on: - promoting Regional cooperation, South-South cooperation and networking - seeking strengthened, coherent and more effective development assistance - establishing a credible monitoring system Suggestion of a general outline of a Chair's Summary followed by comments Adoption of a Chair’s Summary