Kuala lumpur: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad today inspected the initial preparations for the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers' Meeting (AHMM) scheduled to take place this Thursday, here.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) announced that Dzulkefly visited the exhibition space presented by exhibitors from MOH divisions and agencies and inspected the main meeting room of AHMM. "He also greeted the staff involved in the preparation and management of the meeting and expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the commitment and efforts given to ensure that all preparations ahead of the 17th AHMM run smoothly," said MOH in a Facebook post.

Also present during the visit were the MOH's health deputy director-general (public health) Dr Ismuni Bohari, MOH Disease Control Division director Dr Noraryana Hassan, and MOH Policy and International Relations Division deputy secretary Dr Ainul Nadziha Mohd Hanafiah.

Malaysia will chair the 17th AHMM in the federal capital for five days starting today, which will serve as the main platform for ASEAN health ministers to discuss regional health issues and enhance cooperation and coordination in the health sector.

The Ministry of Health in a statement yesterday announced that the 17th AHMM and Related Meetings are significant as Malaysia last hosted them 22 years ago, in 2004. Carrying the theme 'Healthy ASEAN: Together Towards Equitable, Future-Ready Health Systems', this year's event also features the inaugural ASEAN-United States (US) and ASEAN-Japan Health Ministers' Meetings.