Regional Cooperation: Myanmar delegation joins 16th AHMM

Laos is hosting the 16th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting and its related meetings from August 8th to 10th in its capital city, Vientiane.

On 9th August, the 2nd day of the meeting continued at National Convention Center with the attendance of Union Minister for Health Dr. Thet Khaing Win and the Health ministers and high-ranking officials from ASEAN member states, China, Japan, Republic of Korea and the US. The 2nd ASEAN –Korea Health Ministers Meeting was held under the title of “Digital Transformation in Health Care”.

During the meeting, the Union Minister stressed the crucial role of the collaborative activities among ASEAN member states and partner countries to enhance interoperability in information exchange in health care service provisions.

Subsequently, the 10th ASEAN + 3 Health Ministers Meeting was held under the title of “Strengthening ASEAN Health Security through Digital Innovations for Cross-Border Health Emergencies in the Next Context Post Pandemic”.

At the meeting, the Union Minister highlighted the digital technology in health care service provisions at the border areas to form the strong health care system which can tackle global health emergencies effectively.

The Union Minister also participated in 9th ASEAN-China Health Ministers Meeting under the title of “Strengthening Health System and Access to Health Care” and underscored the ASEAN-China healthcare cooperations to strengthen the ASEAN region’s health sector.

At the ASEAN-US Health Ministers Meeting titled “Advancing Optimal Health and Well-Being in the ASEAN Region”, the Union Minister highlighted the current difficulties encountered due to the attack of the terrorist insurgents on non-military targets such as hospitals and clinics which left casualties of health care personnel and emphasized the efforts of the government in reconstruction and upgrading of hospitals, clinics and other infrastructure, providing medicine and medical equipment, assigning healthcare service personnel to provide essential health care services to the public.

The Union Minister also called for the collaboration and assistance of the ASEAN member states without limitation. After the meetings, the joint statements of the 10th ASEAN+3 Health Ministers Meeting, 2nd ASEAN-Korea Health Ministers Meeting, 9th ASEAN-China Health Ministers Meeting and ASEAN-US Health Ministers Meeting were adopted.