Towards a Regional Vision: Advancing Sensory Health in the Western Pacific

On March 27^th and 28^th a diverse group of health experts, country representatives, and key partners gathered at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific to focus on a critical but often overlooked aspect of health: sensory function. The expert meeting marked a significant step toward developing a regional plan for the integration of sensory health.

Sensory health, encompassing both vision and hearing, is fundamental to wellbeing, education, and participation in society. Yet, across the Western Pacific Region, sensory impairment remains under-recognised and under-addressed. The region has the highest global prevalence of hearing loss and some of the highest rates of blindness and low vision, most of which are preventable. In many countries, particularly in the Pacific Islands, national plans and service delivery for sensory health are either absent or in early stages. Health systems are constrained by workforce shortages, limited data, and fragmented service pathways. These challenges are further complicated by the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and rapidly ageing populations, placing sensory health at the intersection of several critical public health priorities.

The meeting made a compelling case for integrated approaches to sensory health, that is, embedding services for eye and ear care into primary health care, healthy ageing strategies, child development programmes, and national NCD frameworks. Participants discussed how integration could drive efficiency, reduce duplication, and improve patient outcomes, especially when the same primary care workers are responsible for delivering multiple services. However, integration must be more than an aspiration. To be meaningful and effective, countries need clear guidance, consistent tools, and strong governance. The meeting called for concrete steps such as training health workers to conduct vision and hearing screening, embedding sensory checks into child development monitoring systems, and strengthening referral pathways linked to treatment and follow-up care. New technologies, including artificial intelligence and data innovation, were seen as valuable tools in addressing gaps in coverage and capacity.

Throughout the discussions, country experiences brought the agenda to life. Japan presented its national screening system with strong referral and service packages tailored to different populations. Australia shared its early hearing detection and intervention model, developed through cross-sectoral collaboration and focused on newborn and child health. In Papua New Guinea and Fiji, participants described impressive progress in eye and ENT services, much of it driven by a handful of dedicated individuals and organisations and supported by international collaboration. Malaysia demonstrated success in strengthening eye health (cataract) surveillance systems, while Samoa offered practical guidance on adapting ethical and procedural standards to Pacific realities. The Singapore National Eye Centre shared its regional training initiatives, which provide a model for capacity building that could be replicated elsewhere.

There was strong consensus on the need for a regional plan to guide future sensory function integration efforts. Such a plan would aim to embed sensory health into existing health systems across the life course, ensuring that screening is never an isolated event but rather a gateway to comprehensive care. Training and certification frameworks, better procurement systems, and clear performance indicators would all be required to make this vision a reality. Participants also stressed the importance of ensuring equitable access to services and assistive technologies, especially for people with disabilities who often face multiple barriers to care. A strong focus on ethics, community engagement, and environmental considerations was also recommended.

Ultimately, the meeting sent a clear message: sensory health must become a regional priority. As countries across the Western Pacific Region navigate complex demographic and health transitions, strengthening vision and hearing care is essential to achieving universal health coverage, improving health equity, and supporting people to live full, connected lives. With political will, coordinated action, and sustained investment, the region has an opportunity to lead the way in making sensory health an integral part of every person’s health journey.