Singapore Participates in the Special Video Conferences of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting and ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Meeting on COVID-19

          Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health Dr Lam Pin Min participated in the Special Video Conferences of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting and ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Meeting, held on 7 April 2020.

2.            The Special Video Conferences among ASEAN Health Ministers and the Plus Three Countries (China, Japan, and Republic of Korea) were convened by the Republic of Indonesia, in its capacity as the chair of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting to enhance regional cooperation on the response towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees included Health Ministers from ASEAN and Plus Three Countries, ASEAN Secretary General, and senior representatives from the World Health Organization.

3.            Dr Lam shared Singapore’s national response towards the COVID-19 outbreak and emphasised the vital importance of international cooperation and solidarity in this unprecedented global crisis. He reminded Member States of the importance of ensuring supply chain connectivity and minimising the impact on the welfare of our peoples and societies, even as we prioritised public health measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Dr Lam also urged regional collaboration for more sustainable long-term solutions for COVID-19.

4.            Dr Lam said, “The COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic that the world will face. We should therefore learn from our experiences, and strengthen preparedness for future pandemics, particularly in dense urban centres.”

5.            In the Joint Statements on enhancing cooperation on COVID-19 pandemic response released after the meetings, the ASEAN Health Ministers agreed to continue strengthening the exchange of latest available knowledge and best practices on COVID-19 prevention, detection, control and response efforts, which will help to stem the outbreak in the region.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
7 APRIL 2020