Accelerating positive health outcomes in the Commonwealth was the focus of two meetings held in March at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health (CACH) convened to discuss the key meeting health outcomes for the upcoming Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in May 2025.
Concurrently, the Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in the Commonwealth also met to discuss actionable solutions to improve cancer incidence, care and prevention.
Chaired by the Government of Kiribati, the CACH meeting included representatives from member countries, regional bodies including ECSA-HC and CARICOM, and accredited organisations, including the Commonwealth Health Professions Alliance and CommonAge.
Discussions were wide-ranging and included including sustainable financing, climate resilience, non-communicable diseases - including cancers, mental health, digital innovations and healthy ageing.
Contributions to the agenda items were also made by other health professionals and policymakers from Commonwealth member states who were online. On healthy ageing, CACH engaged with Dame Carol Black, the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ageing Well, who shared key areas from her publication, Ageing Well in the Commonwealth.
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A proactive approach to cancer care
To promote healthier outcomes related to NCD and cancers, CACH members heard findings from the Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in the Commonwealth, established in February 2023. This collaborative research initiative aims to address the pressing challenges of cancer care across Commonwealth countries, advocating for increased investment in evidence-based health systems, policy, education, and patient advocacy.
Chaired by Prof Rifat Atun, Chair of Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in the Commonwealth, who was once a Commonwealth Scholar, provided a comprehensive analysis of the existing cancer care landscape, proposing actionable solutions to improve cancer incidence, survival rates, and overall care quality. The Commission report presented to the CACH members recommendations at reducing cancer disparities within member countries.
Optimising health financing
Discussions on achieving sustainable health funding explored the challenges many countries face, particularly considering increasing pressures to provide Universal Health Coverage. Participants concurred on the necessity for innovative financing strategies and collaborative efforts to maintain adequately funded and resilient healthcare systems amid growing demands.
It was proposed that the Commonwealth could explore a new model that takes the most vulnerable into account while being able to deliver high-quality services. Private sector investment was mooted as one of the ways that could possibly support a more nuanced economic model.
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While medical professionals and government officials dominated the room, there were also economists who made solid contributions to the conversation. Countries were encouraged to use language familiar to finance ministers, emphasising the positive impact and economic growth that would result from improved health outcomes.
The discussion also included opportunities for sustainable health funding, such as pooled procurement, which India reported had significantly lowered their costs. This model, successfully used by some Caribbean nations for vaccine procurement, has the potential to be expanded to other healthcare areas, enhancing efficiency and reducing expenses.
A Commonwealth approach to challenges
The pervasive issue of the migration of health professionals was discussed, with members suggesting that we needed to view this phenomenon as “brain circulation” rather than a loss of talent.
There was an insightful discussion about leveraging technology to mitigate the effects of migration, such as allowing people to work remotely - for example, providing diagnostic support while earning higher wages. A representative from Tonga highlighted that this approach not only addresses workforce shortages but also improves access to healthcare services that are otherwise unavailable in his country.
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Later that day, both groups reconvened for an event where the Lancet Commission discussed strategies for improving cancer care within the Commonwealth.
The event featured a keynote address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, who underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing cancer care and addressing disparities in access to treatment across member nations.
Media contact
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Charmaine Wright Head of Media Relations, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
- +44 20 7747 6242 | E-mail
