The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical services says it has begun working on a policy change to increase the capacity of provincial health services in the country.

The ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr Lesta Ross says that under their new Strategic Plan, they are working on moving health resources and services down to majority of the country's populace living in the rural areas.

With more than 80% of the population in the rural areas, the plan would ensure that the rural people have access to basic medical care.

Dr Ross says one of the first things to do is to bring pharmacy services to rural areas to provide such services there.

He adds that his ministry is also looking at spreading donor assistance.

The Health Permanent Secretary was speaking before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Hearing on the progress of his ministry's work.