Kuala lumpur: The ASEAN Strategic Health Agenda (ASHA) 2026-2030 will be launched as the region's primary health roadmap at the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers' Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings, which begin here today and run until Sept 11.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Health Ministry (MOH) stated that the launch of the agenda is among the strategic focuses of the five-day conference, marking a milestone for Malaysia as it hosts the meetings for the first time in 22 years, since 2004.
The ministry highlighted other strategic priorities of the 17th AHMM, including strengthening pandemic preparedness by operating the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).
Another focus is to develop an integrated strategy to address the growing burden of dual diseases, namely communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in the region, as mentioned in the statement.
The conference officially began today with the Senior Officials' Meeting on Health, ahead of the main event involving ASEAN health ministers, which begins on Sept 9. The biennial conference, themed 'Healthy ASEAN: Together Towards Equitable, Future-Ready Health Systems', is chaired by Malaysia as ASEAN chair, with Myanmar as vice-chair.
The MOH stated that the participation marked a new phase in the country's health diplomacy, moving beyond policy formulation towards action that delivers tangible results. Over the five-day conference, discussions will focus on building equitable and resilient regional health systems with international Dialogue Partners and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Malaysia's intellectual leadership in the region is also demonstrated through several thematic side events to explore various regional health issues in greater detail, including rare diseases, the Eye Health Initiative (MySPECS), the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), the Lung Health Initiative, Behavioural Insights, and the Regional Medical Device Regulatory Initiative.
The conference also marked a first with the inaugural ASEAN-United States and ASEAN-Japan Health Ministers' Meetings. The international diplomacy platform is also used to strengthen technical cooperation and health investment in the region through ministerial meetings with Dialogue Partners China, South Korea, and WHO.
All the initiatives and policy frameworks discussed reflect Malaysia's strong commitment under the Malaysia MADANI framework, as well as the consensus among ASEAN member states to ensure public healthcare services remain inclusive and sustainable. The conference's resolutions will be translated into concrete action with a direct impact on the wellbeing of more than 670 million people across ASEAN.