PMA’s 30th Anniversary: 3-Day Health Summit Tackles Child Health and Equity

For health system leaders and clinicians, the PMA conference isn’t just a milestone celebration—it’s a strategic signal. As Pacific communities face persistent health inequities, the gathering offers a rare platform where clinical expertise, policy, and cultural competency converge. With child health and equity at the centre, the discussions in Auckland have direct implications for how health systems across the region can design more inclusive and effective care models.

The Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) 2026 Conference in Auckland, marking 30 years of service, convenes a critical mass of Pacific health leaders at a pivotal moment for health equity across Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific. Under the theme “The pathway to leadership is service – showcasing 30 years of service, innovation and excellence,” the three-day event reflects not only on the organisation’s legacy but also on the persistent health disparities that demand a renewed, collective approach. The conference opened with a Global Health Symposium featuring Pacific Community Director-General Dr Paula Vivili and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lead Adviser Health Dr Dilhani Bandaranayake, immediately setting a tone of cross-institutional collaboration essential for addressing non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, and health system strengthening that depend on coordinated international effort.

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The Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) 2026 Conference in Auckland, marking 30 years of service, convenes a critical mass of Pacific health leaders at a pivotal moment for health equity across Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific.

Child health, positioned under the urgent theme “Protecting Our Future,” commanded a central place in the agenda. A keynote from paediatric surgeon Dr Kirsten Finucane (CNZM, FRACS) and presentations from developmental paediatrician Dr Eta Raicebe and Vaka Mauri Collective Programme Director Dr Joseph Kado signal that the Pacific child health burden—from congenital anomalies to developmental delays—remains a top priority. The inclusion of a community programme director alongside clinical specialists reinforces the importance of culturally grounded, community-led interventions that extend beyond hospital walls. This focus aligns with global recognition that early life health outcomes are the bedrock of population health and economic productivity, making the session not just a medical discussion but an economic and social investment argument.

Health equity and the principle of leaving no one behind emerged as a cross-cutting theme, integrating sexual and reproductive health, internal medicine, and newborn metabolic screening into the conversation. This framing mirrors the Sustainable Development Goals and reflects a maturing Pacific health discourse that no longer treats specialty areas in isolation. For health systems, the message is clear: equity must be embedded in screening programmes, primary care design, and workforce training, not treated as a separate workstream.