China

AAMH participates in high level Australia-China Health Dialogue

October 11, 2012

Associate Professor Chee Ng, co-director at Asia Australia Mental Health was one of four Australian health experts invited to the China-Australia Health Policy Dialogue, hosted by the Ministry of Health China and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, and supported by Ministry of Commerce and AusAID.

Both Minister Roxon and Minister Chen showed a keen interest in collaborating further in mental health. The meeting has helped cement Australia’s long term relationship with China, and raised the important profile of community mental health across China.

Both Ministers noted the successful collaborative work undertaken to date under China Australia HIV/AIDS Health Facility (CAHHF) and Minister Roxon encouraged further collaboration using the CAHHF model.

“I understand that CAHHF could develop a project proposal to take forward the outcomes of the dialogue and I look forward to our officials considering this and other new mechanisms for cooperation in the discussions that will follow later today” Minister Roxon said.

Minister Roxon expressed particular interest in short-term collaboration in tobacco control and responding to emerging infectious diseases and long-term collaboration in health financing and e-health initiatives.

Minister Chen summarised the health reform priorities under China’s new Five Year Development Plan. He noted that the Ministry of Health will increasingly focus on chronic diseases, such as diabetes and various cancers, as China faces increasing challenges associated with an aging population and changing lifestyles.

The dialogue was also attended by senior health officials from China’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Australian Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA).

The event was co-organized by the China National Health Development Research Centre and the China-Australia Health and HIV/AIDS Facility (CAHHF), through the Burnet Institute.