Background and Objectives

________________________________________________ 25 th Meeting of Ministers of Health Thimphu, Bhutan, 31 August – 1 September 2007 SEA/HMM/Meet.25 22 August 2007 BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Since 1981, the meetings of the health ministers of the countries of WHO South-East Asia Region have been providing a forum to discuss important health issues in the Region as well as to forge bilateral and intercountry cooperation and regional solidarity. The host for this Twentyfifth Meeting of the Ministers of Health is the Royal Government of Bhutan The objectives of the meeting are to review the following topical health issues and have the benefit of the Ministers’ guidance thereon for future action: � Follow-up Actions on the Decisions and Recommendations of the 24th HMM � International Health Security � Climate Change and Health These meetings have immensely contributed towards enhancing cooperation, reinforce political commitment and most importantly afford an opportunity to Member States to ‘unitedly tap the potential for ensuring the well-being of people of WHO South-East Asia Region’.