Asean: ASEAN member states and South Korea are moving to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health, with the shared goal of building a more connected, secure, and resilient regional healthcare ecosystem to improve access to care and strengthen early disease detection. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad described South Korea as an invaluable partner in advancing ASEAN's digital health agenda, calling the collaboration a crucial step towards a shared vision of an ASEAN that works together for equitable, future-ready health systems.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dzulkefly emphasized the importance of resilient and adaptive healthcare systems, especially highlighted by the recent pandemic. He noted that leveraging AI, data-driven insights, and digital solutions could bridge equity gaps, enhance early warning systems, and ensure high-quality healthcare reaches all communities across the region. This statement was made during his opening remarks at the 3rd ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Health Ministers' Meeting, held alongside the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers' Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings.
Dzulkefly highlighted several initiatives, including Korea's Big Data Policy and the expertise of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and Korea Human Resource Development Institute for Health and Welfare (KOHI), which offer proven approaches in medical AI and digital primary care. He stated that aligning policy goals and sharing technical knowledge would help strengthen universal health coverage, streamline regulatory systems, and build a secure, interoperable, and people-centered health ecosystem across ASEAN. As the ASEAN Co-Chair, Malaysia is committed to promoting productive dialogue and aims to adopt a Joint Statement reflecting shared aspirations and providing clear directions for deeper collaboration in regional health.
ROK Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Hyung Hoon, who co-chaired the meeting, reiterated the importance of digital health cooperation for bridging healthcare and digital gaps among ASEAN member states. He noted that digital health had become a central pillar of ASEAN-ROK health cooperation since the establishment of a health dialogue channel at the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. Since then, efforts have been made to strengthen human resource capacity in health and biotechnology and to contribute to stronger regional health security surveillance through the ASEAN Biological Surveillance Centre (ABVC).
Hyung Hoon further mentioned the ASEAN-ROK Health Big Data Capacity Building Project, which will commence this year, as a launchpad for member states to enhance their data capacity. This initiative aims to help countries harness health data and digital technologies while ensuring equitable sharing of innovation benefits across the region. The ROK has identified three key objectives for advancing cooperation: connecting existing digital health infrastructure, strengthening governance and workforce capacity for AI, and bringing discussions under the Live Together AI-Powered Health and Society framework.
Hyung Hoon concluded by stating that the theme of the 17th AHMM, "Together Towards Equitable Future-Ready Health Systems," underscores the shared commitment of ASEAN and the ROK to ensure digital transformation benefits communities across the region, despite differences in digital readiness and healthcare capacity.