Thailand is making preparations for hosting APEC Health Week meetings between the 22nd and 26th of this month. Health ministers from 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies will be attending the meetings. Emphasis will be placed on fostering a balance between public health and the economy, as well as on investing in health security.
Public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed Thailand is ready to host APEC Health Week. The event’s theme is “Open to partnership. Connect with the World. Balance Health and the Economy”. Health ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Chinese Taipei, the United States, Vietnam, and certain other economies will physically join the event. Health ministers from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Russia will participate remotely. The ASEAN secretary-general and the deputy head of the Asian Development Bank will also attend.
Mr. Anutin said the meeting will allow for brainstorming and exchanges of experience, as well as for coordination of working directions in public health and medicine. A multilateral discussion between representatives of 3 economic blocs will also take place. Academic conferences will be held on the topics of quality families and cervical cancer.
As part of APEC Health Week, health ministers will engage the private sector on the topic of fostering a balance between health and economic progress. Mr. Anutin noted this engagement has special relevance due to the need for rapid economic recovery after the pandemic years.
Mr. Anutin added a roundtable meeting on the issue of health-related investments will take place. It will serve to encourage all APEC member economies to increase health-related investments to improve outbreak handling capacities. (NNT)
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