Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan attended the 72nd World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva as a member of the People's Republic of China delegation.

The plenary session’s agenda covers health and environment and climate change, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, ending tuberculosis, as well as global shortage of and access to medicines and vaccines.

Prof Chan listened to a presentation by Minister of the National Health Commission Ma Xiaowei at a side event about the development of primary healthcare on the Mainland and learnt about the experience of other countries in developing such services.

"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to enhancing district-based primary healthcare services in Hong Kong with an emphasis on medical-social collaboration and public-private partnership," she said.

Prof Chan noted each district of Hong Kong will have its own health centre in the next few years with services including health promotion and assessment, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation.

"We will share with the WHO our insight and experience gained from this new service model and our upcoming blueprint for primary healthcare development of Hong Kong," she added.

Prof Chan also discussed healthcare issues with officials of other member states and the WHO at the assembly.