Scientific and public health experts including Tonga's Chief Surgeon and former Minister of Health Lord (Dr) Viliami Tangi are part of a new Scientific and Technical Expert Group of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Public Health Division that met in Noumea on June 17-18.

Dr Colin Tukuitonga, Director of the division, said the high-level expert group will guide the Division's future direction and priorities, and contribute to quality assurance for their work, including scientific publications and advise the Pacific Island countries and territories.

He said the group will provide overall leadership and guidance to set standards for improving population health in the region.

"With their extensive experience, these experts are well placed to know what works, what doesn't, and what's appropriate for our members, and their advice will be invaluable in guiding the work of PHD staff in countries to build national essential public health functions at the local level," he said.

The group will contribute to the new strategic plan recently developed by PHD. Priorities in the new strategy included prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, surveillance and prevention of communicable diseases including sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.

SPC stated that the organisation will continue to provide regional surveillance activities as part of the long established Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network. The Public Health Scientific and Technical Expert Group who met at SPC's headquarters, included:

• Professeur Dominique Baudon – General Manager of Pasteur Institute, New Caledonia.
• Professor Robert Beaglehole (Chair) – Professor Emeritus at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
• Professor Ruth Bonita – Professor Emeritus at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
• Dr Greg Dever – Regional Coordinator for Human Resources for Health, Pacific Islands Health Officers Association (PIHOA), Palau.
• Dr Jean-Paul Grangeon – Head of Health Programs, Department of Health and Social Welfare, New Caledonia.
• Dr Stevenson Kuartei – Physician and former Minister of Health, Palau.
• Dr Viali Lameko – Director of Clinical Programs and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Oceania University of Medicine, Samoa.
• Professor Roger Magnusson – Professor of Health Law and Governance, University of Sydney, Australia.
• Dr Mohamed Patel – Associate Professor, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
• Lord (Dr) Viliami Tangi – Chief Surgeon Specialist and former Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister, Tonga.
• Professor Michael Toole AM – Deputy Director of the Burnet Institute and Professor, School of Public Health, Monash University, Melbourne. Australia.
• Dr Maire Tuheiava – Public Health Specialist and Head of Prevention Programmes, Ministry of Health, French Polynesia.