Solomon Islands and Australia launch new health partnership

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Australian Government have officially launched the Solomon Islands–Australia Health Partnership 2025–2028 with a SBD150 million (AUD28 million) investment to enhance healthcare services and delivery across Solomon Islands. 

This renewed commitment to strengthen the country’s health system was formalised at a signing ceremony attended by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai; the Minister for Provincial Government, the Hon Wayne Ghemu; the Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton; the Australian Ambassador for Global Health, Dr Lucas de Toca; the Permanent Secretary for the MHMS, Mrs Pauline McNeil; and other senior officials from both governments.

Under the partnership, Australia will invest SBD150 million over the next four years to increase equitable access to quality health services across Solomon Islands. Key areas of focus will include:

• provincial grants to support decentralised healthcare delivery
• the National Health Priorities Fund for targeted health initiatives
• the Health Facility Fund to improve infrastructure and services
• the Women in Health Leadership Awards, a new initiative to promote gender equity in healthcare leadership.

The aims of the partnership are to strengthen health service delivery, improve clinical governance, enhance provincial health services, and promote inclusion and climate resilience in health care.

Speaking at the launch, High Commissioner Hilton highlighted that the investment will support the MHMS ‘in its efforts to implement the National Health Strategic Plan 2022–2031 and further support the delivery of better health services in the country’.

Permanent Secretary McNeil underscored the importance of the partnership in addressing healthcare challenges, including budget constraints and human resource gaps. 

‘Our calling as health workers, officials and partners is simple: to deliver better-quality health services that are accessible, affordable and responsive to the needs of our people,’ she said. 

‘The launch of this partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in achieving real impact in the health sector and, most importantly, in the lives of Solomon Islanders.’

NCIRS provides an embedded technical advisor, Mr Patrick Cashman, to support the Essential Program on Immunization team in the management of the Solomon Islands national immunisation program. 

Mr Cashman said, ‘The Solomon Islands–Australia Health Partnership 2025–2028 reinforces our shared commitment to improving healthcare access and strengthening support for frontline health workers – particularly nurses – who play a critical role in delivering immunisation services in Honiara and in the provinces where there is little access to services.’