AL01 PACIFIC ISLANDS PROJECT – PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

The Pacific Islands Project began in 1995 and in its early years had a focus on providing specialist services that were not available in the 10 island nations visited. In 2002 Nauru was added and PIP Phase III will end its 9 month bridging/extension phase in September 2007. During the last 12 years Fiji School of Medicine has commenced a postgraduate medical training program in surgery similar to that has been in existence in PNG since 1975. There are now a growing number of Pacific‐trained surgeons who can select suitable cases, do some of the surgery, and supervise the postoperative care. Increasingly visiting teams have focused on transferring skills and building local capabilities (capacity building). The RACS, the Project Director and the speciality coordinators have managed the first three phases of the project in Australia. Phase III had on‐going evaluation by an internal RACS committee under the chairmanship of Professor Hamish Ewing. AusAid also externally reviewed the project late in 2006. That review was generally complimentary as to what has been achieved but also points to some new goals for the future. At the time of writing this abstract the future direction of PIP is yet to be decided and designed. This will be done mid 2007. However, it is to be hoped there will be a new program, focused on capacity building, that is managed in the Pacific and employs the skills of Pacific Island Specialists wherever possible. RACS is likely to continue to play an important role in sourcing visiting specialists, organising training positions, arranging courses. We have much expertise to offer but there is no longer any need for us to set the agendas.