ASEAN meetings highlight regional health matters

Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win attended the ASEAN Finance and Health Ministers Joint Meeting at Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday morning as discussions based on health issues were made.
At the meeting, the co-chairs, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health of Indonesia, gave opening speeches, and the Asian Development Bank official discussed the financing needs of epidemic response activities and the ways to solve them.
ASEAN’s COVID-19 and public health emergency response financing issues were presented by an official from the ASEAN Secretariat, and the Finance Ministers and Health Ministers of ASEAN member countries had a friendly and open discussion.
Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win stressed the analysis of financing needs and gaps in public health emergency preparedness and response presented by the Asian Development Bank that can be used in the policy-making of ASEAN member countries.
During the epidemic, Myanmar’s health system faced the great challenges of the epidemic like other countries across the globe. However, following the policy of the Chairman of the State Administration Council, which is “nothing is more important than human life”, it has been able to overcome the epidemic.
The Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Finance established the necessary budget for COVID-19 on time and arranged a special fund for the epidemic, as well as purchasing necessary vaccines, the Union minister said.
The Union minister focused on working together to strengthen the health system in cooperation with ASEAN member countries for epidemics.
Subsequently, the ASEAN Finance and Health Ministers approved and released the Joint Meeting Declaration.
In the afternoon, the first day of the ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting was held at Hotel St Regis in Jakarta, Indonesia followed by the opening speech given by the Minister of Health of Indonesia.
Deputy Secretary-General and team on ASEAN Political-Security Community highlighted decisions of the ASEAN Coordination Council on the establishment of the ASEAN Public Health Emergency Task Force, ASEAN COVID-19 response fund renewal issues, ASEAN regional health care cooperation, and ASEAN funding issues.
In the evening, the Union minister and the Myanmar delegation attended a dinner hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Health. — MNA/KZL