WHO Academy Relaunches Pacific Open Learning Health Net

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today the relaunch of the Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN), which will now be available as a dedicated learning space on the WHO Academy's online platform.

This strategic migration marks a new stage in the development of health personnel and the support for learning in the Pacific island countries and territories, by providing expanded access to quality education focused on skills for health professionals in some of the most remote areas in the world.

Originally launched in 2003, the POLHN has long been a lifeline for continuing education in the Pacific, overcoming challenges related to distance, infrastructure, and limited local training capabilities.

"I am happy that we are renewing a simple promise: learning will reach every health worker, and it will support care where it is provided," said the Honorable Mr. Penioni Koliniwai Ravunawa, Assistant Minister of Health and Medical Services of Fiji, during a special one-day meeting dedicated to the vision of Healthy Islands, held on Yanuca Island.

"Since 2003, the POLHN has contributed to reducing distances; today it returns with peaceful leadership at the heart of its mission. Faithful to the spirit of the Pacific, we will shape the canoe – our drua – throughout the journey, together, so that learning progresses alongside services and care remains close to communities."

Temporarily closed in 2022 due to funding constraints, the POLHN has now been reinstated through a collaboration between the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and the WHO Academy. Its new version offers a dedicated learning space on the recently launched platform of the WHO Academy, featuring courses tailored to the specific needs of health and care workers in the Pacific.

Learners in the Pacific will have access to hundreds of new courses, including those developed by the WHO Academy and its partner institutions, designed for health personnel worldwide – incorporating the learning offerings of university partners.

Other courses and training, offered by professional development providers, will also be available, such as the WHO scholarships and leadership programs from the Korean Foundation for International Health (KOFIH).

The courses cover a wide range of themes—from climate change to basic emergency care and the management of non-communicable diseases—aiming to strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes globally.

"Health and care workers in the Pacific are facing extraordinary challenges due to remoteness, lack of resources, and staff shortages," said Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, Regional Director of WHO for the Western Pacific.

"The rapid pace of new standards and innovations exceeds the capacity of healthcare systems to adapt – it can sometimes take up to 10 years for systems with limited resources to integrate medical innovations. By revitalizing the POLHN and incorporating it into the WHO Academy, we reaffirm our commitment to equity in learning and ensure that every health worker, wherever they are, has the opportunity to learn, advance, and better serve their community."

The WHO Academy is a leading institution that utilizes the most innovative technologies to provide flexible and impactful training and capacity-building activities. Learners will receive digital certificates upon completing the courses, facilitating career advancement and skill recognition.

"In the context of our mission to promote universal health coverage by strengthening health personnel, this collaboration illustrates our efforts to ensure access to relevant training," said Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, Deputy Director-General of the WHO for health systems.

"We are proud to support the healthcare and caregiving staff in the Pacific by providing an accessible learning environment tailored to their daily realities. Together with our colleagues from the Western Pacific Regional Office, we are building a future where lifelong learning becomes a reality for all healthcare professionals."

The online learning platform offers course formats that are compatible with low bandwidth and tailored for mobile devices, as well as an integration of learner feedback to continuously enhance the learning experience. For more information and to access the POLHN learning space, visit whoacademy.org to register, or contact the Capacity Building and Leadership Unit of the Western Pacific Regional Office at: wprocal@who.int.

Press Contacts

Regional Office for the Western Pacific of the WHO Email: wprocom@who.int

WHO Office for the South Pacific Email: nwong@who.int

Media team of the Academy of OMS Email: academymedia@who.int