Annual Report

Annual Report 2006

Chairman: Prof Scott Henderson - Australia

Secretary: Prof M P Deva - Malaysia

Treasurer: Prof Helen Chiu -  Hong Kong

The Western Pacific Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has been involved in the following activities in 2006.

1.     Royal College Meeting in Glasgow 10-13 July 2006

A Symposium was organised in collaboration with the South East Asian Division at the Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists held in Glasgow from July10-13, 2006. The theme of the joint presentation was 

The College and the Western Pacific and South East Asian Divisions: Improving the capacity of Primary Health Care workers to identify mental health problems.

Chair: Prof Scott Henderson

Western Pacific Division Topics and Speakers:

1. Changing mental care through Primary Health Care Training  in psychiatry in the Western Pacific - Prof. M Parameshvara Deva - Malaysia

2. Rural Mental health and Primary Care - Prof. Sadanand Rajkumar- Australia

3 Need for inter-regional cooperation in the BIA to enhance improvement in psychiatric care - Afzal Javed - UK

These presentations were followed by an excellent discussion and later by the South East Asian Division presentations chaired by Prof Haroon Ahmed.

2.   A Questionnaire Survey among Western Pacific Members

The Division carried out a survey using a questionnaire mailed to all Members of the College in the WP region. The response rate to the Questionnaire was less than 4% and focused on the need to do more for Members and Fellows. Those Members and Fellows who did respond were supportive of suggestions relating to training and research. 

3.   Proposal to organise and hold Regional Meetings of the Division in Hong Kong and Australia -

At the Glasgow meeting of the BIA, the Western Pacific Division proposed that it organise meetings in collaboration with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists in the coming years. The proposal aims to advance Mental Health  in the Western Pacific Region, which covers a large proportion of the world’s population and has conspicuous training and service needs that are unmet.  College Members need to be activated to contribute in these areas.  However, for this to be carried out the Division proposed that the Presidents of the two Colleges first initiate discussions on collaboration at a higher level. The first of these opportunities would possibly be at the WPA Regional meeting in Melbourne on 28 November to 2 December, 2007.

The Division awaits the decision by the College on this proposal.

4. Plans for 2007

4.1  The plan of the WP Division for 2007 is to organise a Symposium in 2007 at the Edinburgh Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, once again in collaboration with the South East Asian Division, on the theme of Psychosocial Rehabilitation.

The Division has submitted its Proposal to the Organising Committee of the Edinburgh Meeting, with a chairman and 3 speakers, namely,

Chairman. Prof Scott Henderson - Australia

1. Prof Kua Ee Heok - Singapore

2.Prof Helen Chiu - Hong Kong

3. Prof M Parameshvara Deva - Malaysia

4.2  If the proposal for collaboration between the RCPsych and the RANZCP is approved and supported in the Budget, the Division will plan a symposium around the theme of:

“Training opportunities to improve Mental Health in the Western Pacific region  -  Win-Win  Prospects”.

Prof Scott Henderson Chairman

Prof. M P Deva Secretary

Prof Helen Chiu, Finance Officer

Survey of West Pacific Division membership

The Executive Committee are now in the process of drawing up plans for the WP Division to develop over the next few years and are interested in obtaining your views regarding the objectives and the role of our Division within the remit specified by the College bye-laws, i.e. “to facilitate the exchange of information and to promote discussion about psychiatry within a specified geographical area outside the United Kingdom and Ireland.”