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ILDS commits US$1 million to enhance dermatology training for the Pacific Island Nations

12 Sep 2024

Funds will help train additional doctors and health workers and improve clinical facilities at the Pacific Dermatology Training Centre in Fiji.

The International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) is to commit US$1 million to advance dermatology training for the Pacific Island Nations. It has awarded the funds to Pacific Dermatology Limited, which supports the Pacific Dermatology Training Centre (PDTC) at Tamavua Twomey Hospital in Suva. The new funding will increase access to care and improved treatment for individuals living with skin diseases throughout the region, which includes Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa and other Pacific Island Nations.

A ceremony was held at PDTC on 12 September 2024 to mark the commencement of this initiative. Attendees included Fiji’s sole specialist dermatologist, Dr Mecuisela Tuicakau, Director and Head of Training at PDTC, and Dr Margot Whitfeld, an Australian dermatologist who co-founded PDTC’s postgraduate training programme with Dr Tuicakau. Representing the ILDS was Dr Stephen Shumack, an Australian dermatologist and Treasurer of the ILDS. Also in attendance were members of the Pacific Dermatology Trust (Fiji), which facilitated the ceremony, and representatives from Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Fiji National University (FNU).

Founded by Pacific Dermatology Ltd, an Australian non-profit organisation and FNU, PDTC opened in 2019 to address the critical shortage of dermatology services for the Pacific Island Nations. Since its inception, eleven doctors from the region have earned FNU’s one-year postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology, and seven are currently pursuing its Master’s programme. The centre’s patient reach has grown significantly, from treating 800 patients per month in 2018 to more than 2,000 per month in 2024.

To achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, we must expand skin health provision, so the ILDS is delighted to support PDTC in training dermatologists to provide care for those living with skin diseases in the Pacific Island Nations. Dr Claire Fuller, IFD Chair

The training programmes are designed not only to improve the diagnosis and treatment of tropical skin diseases but also to enhance data collection on both communicable and non-communicable diseases, and to provide greater expertise in managing health emergencies. Graduates of the Diploma programme are equipped to diagnose and treat tropical skin conditions in their communities, thereby significantly increasing access to dermatological care across the region.

The three-year Master’s in Dermatology programme, available to those with a medical degree and the Diploma, further qualifies doctors as specialists in dermatology. With more doctors trained to this level, PDTC expects to expand access to treatment for those in the region living with a variety of skin diseases, including psoriasis, vitiligo, diabetic ulcers, impetigo, and neglected tropical diseases such as leprosy.

Trainees on both programmes gain hands-on experience by working at the Fiji National Skin Clinic, providing essential dermatology-related services. The clinic now treats 21,000 patients per year.

The ILDS funding will support the expansion of both the Diploma and Master’s programmes, enabling PDTC to continue to train healthcare professionals and extend its reach within the region. The grant will be paid in instalments over the next four years.

The ILDS is dedicated to raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and promoting high-quality education, clinical care, research, and innovation within the global dermatology community. With a network of 215 members from 103 countries, the ILDS represents dermatology at the highest levels through its ‘official relations’ status with the World Health Organization and advocates for the inclusion of skin health in global health policy.

Dr Lulyritha Kini and Sister Wilina at the RDTC in Moshi, Tanzania

The funding commitment to PDTC follows the ILDS’s successful investment in the Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC) in Moshi, Tanzania. Founded in 1990, it has improved dermatological care in Tanzania and neighbouring countries.

Dr Claire Fuller, Chair of the ILDS’s International Foundation for Dermatology, commented:

Claire Fuller_square headshot

To achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, we must expand skin health provision, so the ILDS is delighted to support PDTC in training dermatologists to provide care for those living with skin diseases in the Pacific Island Nations. In so doing, we are contributing to the delivery of UHC for this significant and geographically dispersed region of the world. Dr Claire Fuller, IFD Chair

ILDS President Prof Henry W. Lim added: “Expanding access to dermatological care is a key priority for the ILDS as we strive to achieve our goal of ‘skin health for the world.’ The Pacific Island Nations are clearly underserved in this regard.

“Pacific Dermatology, with support from Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services and other stakeholders, has made tremendous progress in addressing this need through the creation of PDTC and its training programmes. We hope our funding will ensure the sustainability of its work and allow the team to continue expanding their services, offering a brighter future to those living with skin diseases across the region.”

Dr Mecuisela Tuicakau expressed gratitude, saying:

Mecuisela Tuicakau

We are deeply thankful to the ILDS for this crucial funding, which will help us build a sustainable community of dermatology professionals capable of treating more of our people locally. It will also allow us to enhance the facilities and technology at PDTC, further improving the care we provide to our patients. Dr Mecuisela Tuicakau, Director and Head of Training at PDTC

He also acknowledged Dr Margot Whitfeld’s support, stating: “I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr Whitfeld for her dedication to the development of our training programmes and her commitment to teaching and mentoring dermatologists both in Australia and beyond. Our programmes would not exist without her, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.”