2017-07-17

ASEAN-Japan Research Initiative UHC and Ageing

Welcoming delegates from 10 ASEAN countries to Yokohama, Kanagawa Governor, Mr Yuji Kuroiwa stated his strong commitment and support to innovative health care policy and international partnerships. “Our Prefectural Government is actively committed to implement its innovative Healthcare New Frontier policy, a bundle of healthcare and industrial policies based on the concept of Curing ME-BYO to advance Universal Health Coverage notably under conditions of population ageing,” Governor Kuroiwa stated.

The Policy Discussion in Yokohama City, Japan, took place from 17-18 July 2017, and focused on Leading Health Reforms in the 21st Century - Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Ageing and Health Systems. It was organized jointly by the WHO Kobe Center and Kanagawa Prefecture Government, with the support of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the ASEAN Secretariat. It was attended by senior government officials from all ASEAN Countries and immediately followed the ASEAN-Japan Health Ministers Meeting on Universal Health Coverage and Ageing Populations in Tokyo, 14-15 July 2017.

The first day was dedicated to technical updates from WHO and participating countries, and practice implementation and research issues related to the “Impact of Population Ageing for Achieving UHC.” During the second day, participants went on field visits to Kanagawa Prefecture’s Life Innovation Center in Kawasaki City and other health institutes in Kawasaki City’s Tonomachi International Strategic Zone. This was also an opportunity to see the almost finished construction of Kanagawa Prefectural Government’s future Medical Innovation School which will invite ASEAN health policy makers to participate in its future Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

“The World Health Organization’s Kobe Centre for Health Development was pleased to support and participate in the rich and constructive policy discussions at this meeting. We will follow up the discussions in developing a new research initiative for ASEAN countries on Universal Health Coverage and Population Ageing,” stated Dr Sarah Louise Barber, Director of the WHO Kobe Centre at the WHO Centre for Health Development at the conclusion of the meeting. The WHO Kobe Centre will launch a call for Letters-of-Intent (LoIs) for the new research initiative in early August.

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