Singapore Hosts the Biennial Meetings among Health Ministers in the ASEAN + 3 Region

20 Jul 2010

Every other year, an ASEAN Health Minister will host a meeting among the ASEAN counterparts; followed by an ASEAN + 3  Health Ministers Meeting and an ASEAN - China Health Minister Meeting.

2. It will be Singapore’s turn to host the 10th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM), the 4th ASEAN + 3 and the 3rd ASEAN - China Health Ministers Meetings. The meetings will be held from 22–23 July, 2010 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. More than 100 health officials from the region will be participating. 

3. Singapore Health Minister, Mr Khaw Boon Wan will chair the ASEAN Meeting and co-chair the ASEAN + 3 and the ASEAN - China Health Ministers Meetings with China Health Minister, Dr Chen Zhu.

4. Unlike previous meetings which had to deal with a prevailing health crisis, the current public health environment in the region is relatively calm. The H1N1 pandemic has receded. In Singapore, for example, the dominant strain is the seasonal flu A (H3N2).  H1N1 remains active, (accounting for 34% of patients in the community with influenza in the week from 4-10 July 2010) but it is no longer the dominant strain.

5. This provides the backdrop for the health ministers to discuss and brainstorm longer term challenges, including the ageing of the population, and to share experiences in their respective health reforms.  There will also be an opportunity for the health ministers to update one another on the H1N1 pandemic and the way forward, besides formulating new joint activities to further promote regional cooperation and collaboration.

6. The Ministerial meetings will be preceded by a Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting on 19-20 July 2010.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

20 July 2010