'The health ministers will discuss climate change and its impact on human health. Climate change is affecting all countries in the region, whether through rising sea levels, more frequent and violent natural disasters, or melting glacial ice,' the statement said.

This meeting will follow up on the progress on the New Delhi Declaration on the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health, adopted by the ministers in 2008.

'The Regional Committee will also discuss the engagement of the private sector to meet national health systems goals. The non-state sector plays a dominant role in provision of health services in the region, more so than anywhere else in the world and even in the case of essential care like maternal and child health,' the statement said.

'However, the sector is largely unregulated, with both cost as well as quality consequences for patients. Nonetheless, private contributions that effectively supplement public resources could provide an important opportunity for advancing national health agendas,' it added.