Acting Minister of Health A.Tsogtsetseg and WHO Regional Director for Western Pacific Shin Young-soo signed a document on strategic cooperation between the Government of Mongolia and the WHO in 2017-2021.

Following the ceremony, WHO Regional Director Shin Young-soo, who is visiting Mongolia on September 26-28, spoke about the WHO’s efforts to render medical services to outer districts of the capital city and remote communities in provinces in cooperation with local and national organizations, noting how Mongolia strives to realize the Sustainable Development Goals and develop an inclusive healthcare system, leaving no one behind.

“The health sector of Mongolia has seen visible growth in recent years,” he said, citing the reduction of infant mortality rate in 2000-2015. Meanwhile, Mr. Shin Young-soo expressed concerns about continued spread of diseases such as tuberculosis, drug-resistant tuberculosis and hepatitis, increasing cases of non-infectious diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes. “It is necessary to focus on environmental pollution and sanitation, issues that leave impact on health,” he said.

The Health Ministry and the WHO identify three strategic priorities for the cooperation in the next five years – strengthening healthcare system assessable to all; realizing comprehensive people-centered healthcare programs; and improving the health of all Mongolians, engaging other sectors in order to ensure healthy environment, reflect health issues in government policies, focusing on inter-sector cooperation and improving coordination.

Acting Minister A.Tsogtsetseg expressed her confidence that the strategy will guide bilateral efforts and contribute to improving population health.