OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 17TH ASEAN HEALTH MINISTERS’ MEETING (AHMM17)
10th September 2026 | JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, a very good morning, and Salam Malaysia MADANI.
1. First and foremost, as the Minister of Health Malaysia and the Chair of the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM), it is my profound honour to welcome all Health Ministers, Dialogue Partners, WHO representatives, and distinguished delegates to Kuala Lumpur.
2. I am also joined today by:
• Datuk Seri Hj. Hasnol Zam Zam bin Hj. Ahmad, Secretary-General of Health; and
• Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathar Abd. Wahab, the Director-General of Health, Malaysia.
3. We, alongside 10 other ASEAN Health Ministers or representatives, gather here today under our overarching theme: "Healthy ASEAN: Together Towards Equitable, Future-Ready Health Systems".
FOCUS 1: ASHA 2026–2030 & ASEAN COMMUNITY VISION 2045
4. Today marks a historic milestone in regional health diplomacy with the official launch of the ASEAN Strategic Health Agenda (ASHA) 2026– 2030. This comprehensive blueprint serves as our primary 5-year roadmap across four (4) core ASEAN Health Clusters:
• Cluster 1: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles & NCD Prevention.
• Cluster 2: Responding to All Hazards & Emerging Public Health Threats.
• Cluster 3: Strengthening Health Systems & Access to Care.
• Cluster 4: Ensuring Regional Food Safety.
5. This blueprint will narrow health development gaps so that no ASEAN community or country is left behind, aligning with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
6. Malaysia’s Chairmanship has reinforced a fundamental lesson: a regional health agenda is only as strong as its implementation. As I have always emphasized: “The chain of survival is only as strong as its weakest link, strengthening every stage is vital to securing a resilient and healthy region.”
FOCUS 2: BUILDING MOMENTUM – BILATERAL SUCCESSES
7. We have already hit the ground running with highly productive bilateral engagements yesterday:
• With Singapore: We reinforced our MoU on Health Cooperation, expanding synergies in digital health, active ageing, and regulatory reliance between MDA and HSA (effective March 2026) to accelerate access to high-innovation medical devices.
• With Indonesia: We advanced key initiatives in digital health, Traditional & Complementary Medicine (T&CM), and cross-border healthcare—noting Malaysia's role as a trusted medical tourism hub recording over RM2.2 billion in revenue in 2025.
• Upcoming Bilaterals: I look forward to equally strategic bilateral sessions with our key dialogue partners, China and Japan, to further expand technical and investment ties.
FOCUS 3: HISTORIC BREAKTHROUGHS & SIDE EVENT MILESTONES
8. Yesterday saw major strides across our specialized technical sessions:
• Medical Devices Breakthrough: I chaired the 1st ASEAN Roundtable Discussion on Medical Devices, where ASEAN Member States agreed in principle to support a phased Single Submission Model for pre-market approval, with Malaysia acting as the coordinating entry point for technical dossiers.
• Lung Health Initiative: We launched the ASEAN Action Plan for Lung Health, sharing Malaysia’s success in AI-assisted chest X-ray screenings and proposing an ASEAN-wide voice to elevate lung health as a fundamental human right.
• Combined Technical Side Event: Under the leadership of our DG, we successfully convened a pivotal combined session focusing on Eye Health (MySPECS), Drugs for Neglected Diseases (DNDi), and Behavioural Insights (Sains Tingkah Laku).
• Rare Diseases: We continue our momentum today with the handover of Malaysia’s Rare Diseases Playbook, supporting the WHO Global Action Plan on Rare Diseases.
FOCUS 4: HISTORIC DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENTS
9. This 17th AHMM also marks a major diplomatic milestone with the hosting of the inaugural ASEAN-U.S. and ASEAN-Japan Health Ministers’ Meetings, alongside high-level consultations with China, the Republic of Korea, and the WHO.
10. These historical platforms solidify ASEAN Centrality and position our region at the heart of global health security.
CLOSING
11. Guided by the values of Malaysia MADANI, we remain firmly committed to turning health policy into tangible action for the 670 million citizens of ASEAN; for a better and healthier ASEAN!
12. Last but not least, I express my deepest gratitude to my ministerial colleagues, the ASEAN Secretariat, WHO, and all dialogue partners. Let us work together to build a resilient, equitable, and future-ready ASEAN.
Thank you and Terima Kasih.
SOURCE: Ministry of Health Malaysia
--BERNAMA
