International collaboration will be essential for Asia’s healthcare preparedness, experts tell Asia House

The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the action needed globally to prepare for future health crises were explored by senior government and business figures during an Asia House roundtable discussion, held in partnership with Pfizer.

Indonesian Health Minister Budi G Sadikin was among the speakers in the high-level dialogue, which also saw a video address by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul.

Covering a range of issues, from vaccine equity to building public trust in health measures, the discussion brought together leading stakeholders from across Asia’s healthcare landscape. Pierre Gaudreault, President, Asia Emerging Markets Region, Pfizer, was among the industry leaders to share insights during the roundtable, which highlighted the importance of international cooperation in Asia to ensure the region is better prepared for future health shocks.

Also on the panel were Patrick Osewe, Chief of the Health Sector Group, ADB; Professor Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University; and Andrew Wong, Chief Health Officer, Prudential, who all contributed to a constructive and frank conversation on the issues driving health policy in Asia.

Stakeholders from around the world joined the digital session to engage with the panel on this critical issue. Questions included the role of  cross border data flows in driving collaboration on health, and the potential role of pharmacists in Asia’s wider healthcare system.

Moderated by Asia House Chief Executive Michael Lawrence, the session convened senior figures from across Asia who are shaping the region’s healthcare environment.

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