The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and the Pacific Community (SPC) signed today a memorandum of understanding to support health frameworks and projects in the region and enhance capacity building in the health sector.
RACP President, Associate Professor Mark Lane, said the MoU will see the RACP and SPC work together on programs and initiatives, including some rolled out in partnership with other key health organisations such as the World Health Organization.
“SPC is the lead regional body that works in tandem with WHO to help the region reduce its burden of disease,” Associate Professor Lane said. “The RACP is delighted to be partnering with SPC to enhance many activities undertaken by our own physicians working in the region.
“Activities captured in the MoU will have a broad focus on public and primary health care, specialist delivery and development, workforce management and policy development. We will be also work closely with SPC to build capacity and mentoring practices for physicians and where relevant, nurse specialists and/or relevant allied health practitioners.”
The MoU is effective immediately and will remain in place for five years. “This new partnership formalizes existing relationships and will allow to further pooling the expertise of specialists in Australia and New Zealand, and ultimately reinforce health workforce all across the Pacific”, said Dr Paula Vivili, Director of the Public Health Division at SPC.
This is the second MoU of its kind for the RACP. The College signed an agreement with Fiji National University earlier this year to support specialist medical training and education in the South West Pacific and Timor Leste. The RACP’s support includes Fellows assessing teaching materials and curricula, providing mentoring and advice on teaching practices and assessment processes and assisting professional development material support and clinical teaching practice.
About SPC: The Pacific Community (SPC) is an international development organisation gathering 26 Member Countries and Territories. SPC harnesses science, knowledge and innovation for sustainable development, benefiting Pacific people, since 1947. www.spc.int
About RACP: The RACP trains, educates and advocates on behalf of more than 25,000 medical specialists (physicians and trainees) across Australia and New Zealand.
Media contacts:
Frederic Ballenegger, SPC Noumea, [email protected], +687 878200
Melissah Bell, RACP, [email protected], +61 2 9256 9658