1st INTERVENTION BY MINISTER GAN KIM YONG AT THE 12th ASEAN HEALTH MINISTERS PLENARY, HANOI, VIETNAM 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 ON THE THEME OF “BETTER HEALTH FOR ASEAN COMMUNITY BEYOND 2015"

Madame Chair

Honourable Ministers,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon.  I like to start with thanking Vietnam for hosting this year’s AHMM, particularly Madame Chair and her colleagues who have been most gracious and generous with their hospitality, as well as hosting very excellent lunches and dinners for each of us.

2.                 The theme “Better Health for ASEAN Community Beyond 2015” is a timely reminder of our collective hope and aspirations towards a healthier ASEAN. From the conversations I had with my fellow Ministers this morning, I am heartened to know that we have general agreement on our plans. With 2015 almost upon us, we should continue, and in fact, step up our efforts to see through our commitments as laid out in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint. It is also timely for us to reflect on our plans as an ASEAN Community beyond 2015.     

Health Challenges

3.                 ASEAN is a diverse region. While we may have different health priorities, we also share many common challenges.

4.                 First, the risk of spread of disease pandemics is multiplied in the increasingly connected world we live in today. Besides threatening lives and the health of our people, and severely straining our healthcare systems, these outbreaks can have a detrimental impact on our region’s economies and social compact. The risks from avian influenza H7N9 and H5N1, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome have not gone away. We should always be prepared for the next pandemic even as we keep a close watch on Ebola.     

5.                 Second, we are seeing a growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in ASEAN countries. Stemming the tide of NCDs would require changing people’s mindsets, behaviours and lifestyle habits.  Besides public education and outreach programmes, we should make it easy, convenient and affordable for people to choose a healthy lifestyle.    

6.                 Third, Singapore, like many ASEAN countries, has an ageing population. With more seniors in our midst, we can expect greater demand for healthcare services, and would need more facilities and manpower to meet the growing needs. These will eventually have an impact on the healthcare cost. More advanced technology, medical treatment modalities and newer brand-name drugs have also contributed to rising healthcare costs. Our healthcare systems need to evolve, as we work towards a balance of keeping healthcare affordable for our people while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our healthcare system.

Singapore’s Efforts

7.                 Singapore remains true to ASEAN’s commitment of ensuring good health for our people. We launched the Healthcare 2020 Master Plan two years ago as a roadmap towards a more effective, more inclusive and more sustainable healthcare system.  The aim is to make quality healthcare more accessible and affordable for all citizens. 

8.                 We are building more healthcare facilities to improve healthcare access. To support the infrastructural expansions, we are expanding and training our healthcare workforce so that they can meet the changing needs of the population. Next, we are encouraging public and private healthcare providers from different sectors to work in partnership to keep our population healthy, and to provide quality care in an integrated and patient-centric manner as I explained during the retreat this morning. This involves growing the capabilities of community-based providers like primary, and intermediate and long-term care. To keep healthcare costs affordable for patients, we have expanded our financing framework to lower the cost of treatment and drugs. By end of 2015, we will roll out MediShield Life to provide lifelong and universal healthcare coverage for all Singaporeans.    

Aspirations for ASEAN for 2015 and Beyond

9.                 As members of ASEAN, we share a common vision of improving the health and quality of life for our peoples. We have heard about the good progress made by ASEAN in shaping the Post-2015 Vision.

10.            First, the Mid Term Review of the ASCC Blueprint completed in 2013 provided an update of our accomplishments, as well as timely recommendations on how we can further build on these goals.

11.            Second, the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on the ASEAN Community Post-2015 Vision signed off by our national leaders at the 23^rd ASEAN Summit had set clear directions for the individual pillars and sectors to work out their new priorities.   

12.            Third, the ASEAN Coordinating Council has formed the High Level Task Force, and given them the mandate to look into structural reforms necessary for ASEAN to bring itself forward.

13.            We are heartened that our Senior Officials have been working hard in the past few years to develop the Post-2015 Health Agenda. I look forward to the recommendations that would be put forward for our consideration later in the afternoon. I am confident there will be new perspectives and learning points to be shared among us during our discussions.

14.            In closing, I like to reaffirm Singapore’s commitment towards building stronger partnerships and collaboration with the ASEAN Community.  I am confident that if we work together, we can achieve better health for our peoples.

Thank you.