HONG KONG – Different countries and places have different strategies in the process of developing primary healthcare, but their ultimate goal is to achieve universal health coverage, the special administrative region’s health chief said on Monday.

Professor Lo Chung-mau made the statement at a thematic meeting on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Secretary for health and Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam Man Kin attended the WHA plenary session as members of the Chinese delegation.

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The theme of this year's Assembly, which runs from May 27 to June 1, is "All for Health, Health for All". The discussions cover a wide range of issues including universal health coverage, infection prevention and control, International Health Regulations, antimicrobial resistance, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, health promotion, and the WHO's preparedness and response to public health emergencies.

At the side meeting on integrated health services, which was co-organized by the National Health Commission and health authorities of South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, WHO experts and representatives from different countries shared their views on promoting primary healthcare.

Vice-minister of the NHC Cao Xuetao delivered a speech at the side meeting, which was chaired by Dr Margaret Chan, dean of the Vanke School of Public Health of the Tsinghua University. Prof Lo and Dr Lam had in-depth discussions and exchanges with other participants on people-centerd primary healthcare services.

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“The side meeting discussions have provided insights for us to promote primary healthcare development and implement the 'Primary Healthcare Blueprint' in Hong Kong," said Lo said.

After arriving in Geneva on Sunday, Prof Lo and Dr Lam met with Cao and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland Chen Xu, to discuss the latest healthcare developments of the mainland and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's participation in WHO-related work.