Uniting Efforts: Collaborative Paths to ASEAN Health Resilience

AVPN is leading ecosystem builder with 600+ members across 33 markets, focussed on increasing the flow of financial, human, and intellectual capital into the social sector in Asia. We provide a network of peers, rigorous learning programmes, and innovative capital mobilisation opportunities for our members and partners.

AVPN was an official Impact Partner of the G20 Indonesian Presidency in 2022. We worked closely with key Indonesian ministries, namely the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf), along with two working groups namely – Development Working Group (DWG) and the Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG).

AVPN is continuing the engagement by partnering with ASEAN BAC for the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2023. AVPN is organising a side dialogue in partnership with the ASEAN BAC to bring the voice of the private sector in pertinent areas of Health Resilience. The dialogue will also bring together key stakeholders to discuss opportunities and collaboration for the ASEAN BAC Health Institute. The institute’s core areas encompass: a) Serving as a knowledge hub for both Private and Public sectors; b) Benefiting lives of every ASEAN citizen; c) R&D and Innovation; d) Fostering private sector partnerships; and e) Championing policy initiatives.

The side dialogue will focus on the importance of climate and health nexus, need for fair and equitable access to vaccines and equitable health services for hard-to-reach populations, to drive policy reforms and “position ASEAN at the epicenter of global economic interconnectedness”.

• Climate & Health nexus: Climate change is having a direct impact on public health, exacerbating existing health inequities, and increasing the incidence of heat-related illness, infectious diseases, vector borne diseases, climate-related disasters, and other health threats such as non communicable diseases. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is projected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to factors like malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress. Hence there is an urgency for climate-health interventions to promote climate-resilient health systems as resilient health systems play a critical role in building sustainable economies, especially in terms of last mile delivery to remote communities across the regions.

• Vaccine Equity: Vaccine equity is the principle of ensuring fair and inclusive access to vaccines for all individuals, irrespective of their socio-economic background or geographic location. It aims to bridge the global gap in vaccine distribution and prioritise marginalised populations. WHO emphasises that equitable access to vaccines is crucial for global health security and reducing the devastating impact of infectious diseases on vulnerable communities. Achieving vaccine equity requires collaboration, increased production, equitable distribution, and targeted support to underserved regions.

• Health access for hard to reach populations: Equitable health services are vital for marginalised communities to bridge healthcare disparities. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately two billion people worldwide lack access to essential medicines, leading to preventable suffering and deaths. The synergy among neighbouring nations can address the equity gap effectively. Regional collaboration allows the pooling of resources, expertise, and best practices, breaking down barriers to healthcare access. By embracing regional cooperation, countries can collectively bridge health disparities, ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve.

 Interested participants can e-mail [email protected].

Programme Schedule

Read AVPN ASEAN BAC Side Dialogue Event Report