Sideline talks to strengthen public health cooperation done with Indonesia, Singapore and ADB, says public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul

Deputy prime minister and public health minister has sought cooperation from his counterparts in a bid to promote public health security in the region through SECURE project under ADB’s support, ACPHEED with Indonesia and Genomic study cooperation with Singapore.

August 25: Deputy prime minister and public health minster Anutin Charnvirakul said that he has made a bilateral discussion with Dr. Wan Farisan Bin Wan Sulaiman, excutive director of Asian Development Bank (ADB), public health ministers from Indonesia and Singapore for seeking public health cooperation and financial support to develop Medical Excellence Centre under the Ministry of Public health.

It also updated a progress of SECURE project supporting vaccination management and promoting measures to secure public health affairs after the pandemic ended. ADB has worked closely with seven countries in Asean, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Tomor-Leste, Vietnam and Thailand, which the country is ready to work with ADB to achieve the plan.

He also talked with Dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwobo, deputy public health minister from Indonesia, by highlighting the issue of public health cooperation, including establishment of ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) located in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam and the headquarter is in Bangkok, Thailand. It is now under a process of Establishment Agreement (EA) that is expected to compete by September this year. He said that Thailand has affirmed on its position for working closely with its counterparts for ACPHEED’ s sustainable development in all levels.

Regarding a discussion with Singapore led by public health minister Ong Ye Kung, Mr Anutin said that he has extended his appreciation toward its achivement of "ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, which is a significant step to exercise resources and stakholder’s participation for building up public health security in the region. He further said that Singapore and Thailand will have genomics cooperation on reseach and study.

The sideline talks are made during  the APEC’s the 12th High Level Meeting on Health and the Economy that ends on Friday.

***************************** August, 25 2022