The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG, the College) is dedicated to supporting women’s healthcare in the Pacific through advocacy, workforce, and training initiatives, and encourages Fellows, Members, and Trainees to engage in global health activities.
Challenges facing Pacific women’s healthcare
Comprising thousands of small, remote islands, the Pacific region faces a range of barriers to accessing timely women’s and neonatal healthcare. Isolated locations and climate change contribute to systemic healthcare inequities, limiting resources and workforce capabilities. In 2016, statistics found that just 44% of people in Vanuatu and 67% in Fiji could access essential emergency surgical procedures within two hours, which is one of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 100 Core Health Indicators.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that more than 60% of women in the Pacific who would like to delay or avoid pregnancy are unable to do so, despite contraceptives being available, due to the prevalence of stigma and misinformation. Dr Titilola Duro-Aina of the UNFPA highlights the presence of an “entitlement mindset” which prevents single or unmarried women from seeking contraception.
Just 37% of married women and 18% of sexually active unmarried women in Papua New Guinea are reported to use any form of contraception. This mindset has devastating results, with reported cases of women attempting to carry out their own abortions, risking severe outcomes including sepsis and death. Access to sexual and reproductive health education is vital to empower women and ensure safe and equitable access to contraception.
Another key priority in the region is cervical cancer elimination via vaccination, screening, and treatment, with WHO reporting that cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for women in the Pacific region. A number of projects have arisen aiming to combat this, including the Pacific Island Cervical Cancer Screening Initiative (PICCSI), the Kirby Institute’s Advancing Cervical Cancer Elimination in the Pacific program (AdvanCE), the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC), and Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa’s initiative to eliminate cervical cancer.
RANZCOG x PSRH
The College has a longstanding relationship with the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health (PSRH), a Pacific-owned NGO which engages in education, advocacy, and leadership in women’s health. PSRH membership includes women’s health professionals across the Pacific, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
It supports the professional development of Pacific doctors, nurses, and midwives; develops training and clinical practice resources; and engages in advocacy for Pacific women’s health issues. RANZCOG is proud to provide ongoing funding to the society to support these activities and its biennial conference, and is represented on the PSRH Board.
PSRH was first conceptualised by a Pacific RANZCOG Fellow, Dr Rajat Gyaneshwar, in collaboration with RANZCOG colleagues, Dr Brian Spurrett, Dr Roger Gabb and Dr Jeremy Oats, at an O&G workshop in 1991. It was launched in Fiji in 1993. Since then, the organisation has held 16 conferences, providing collaboration opportunities that would otherwise be unattainable for clinicians working in remote locations. They regularly facilitate onsite and online workshops, including some in collaboration with RANZCOG.
The PSRH 16th Biennial Conference
From 14-18 September 2026, the PSRH 16th Biennial Conference will take place in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. This event provides a unique opportunity for O&G professionals across the Pacific, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to connect, share insights and experiences, and explore solutions and innovations to address healthcare disparities in the region.
The theme this year is “Building and sustaining the Pacific sexual reproductive health workforce through strengthening regional collaboration,” which aligns with the College’s encouragement for members and trainees to support O&G capacity building activities across the Pacific.
Hands-on workshops will take place on 14 and 15 September, including sessions on ultrasound scanning, contraception in Pacific health systems, and a Pacific Emergency Maternal and Neonatal Training (PEMNeT) and Fetal Surveillance Education Program (FSEP) joint workshop on fetal monitoring. The scientific conference will then run from 16-18 September, uniting women’s health practitioners, policymakers, and partners from across the region.
While learning and connecting with fellow professionals, delegates can also engage with local culture through the program’s welcome ceremony, sightseeing tour, sunrise waterfront walk, and cultural night.
Get involved
Visit the PSRH website for further information and to register for the conference.
For volunteer and work opportunities in the Pacific, visit Global Health – Fellows, Members and Trainees or contact globalhealth@ranzcog.edu.au. RANZCOG members can also join the RANZCOG Global Health Facebook Group to connect with Pacific Affiliate Members and O&G trainees and learn about global health initiatives and opportunities.
RANZCOG’s Women’s Health Foundation offers a range of scholarships and grants to support training and research locally and internationally. Visit the Grants and Scholarships page to find out if you may be eligible to apply.
