OPENING REMARKS BY AHMM CHAIR
OFFICIAL LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE ASEAN STRATEGIC HEALTH AGENDA (ASHA) 2026-2030
Remarks delivered by H.E Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly bin Ahmad, Health Minister of Malaysia.
Event: 17th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting (AHMM)
Venue: JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 10 September 2026 (Thursday)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful.
Honorable Dr Myat Wunna Soe Vice Chair Myanmar,
Your Excellencies,
Health Ministers of all the ASEAN Member States,
H.E SAN LWIN, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), Honourable DR. KIDONG PARK, Director of Programme Management at the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO)
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, and a very good morning to all.
1. Before we proceed, I wish to acknowledge with deep concern the tragic incident involving the Flying Doctor Service helicopter near Long Lellang STOLport. Our thoughts are with the five individuals on board, their families, loved ones and colleagues at this difficult time. We extend our deepest sympathy and solidarity to all those affected, and our appreciation to the healthcare personnel who continue to serve our remote communities with courage and dedication.
2. On behalf of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, we assure the affected families of our support and prayers. May I invite our Muslim colleagues to recite Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by a moment of silence in remembrance of those involved.
3. It is a profound honour to welcome all of you to our magnificent city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the prestigious 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting & Related Meetings. Today is especially significant as we come together to inaugurate a new era of regional health cooperation and shared vision for a healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous ASEAN.
Distinguished guests,
4. As the Chair of the ASEAN Health Sector, Malaysia has strived hard to champion the strategic development and further streamlining of our regional health priorities, thus setting the stage towards a brand new Health Agenda for 2026-2030, in this last hurdle of our Chairmanship.
5. Spanning across Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta - beginning from the Collective Development Meeting and Workshop in April this year, followed by the Special Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development (SOMHD) in May and finally the 20th SOMHD conducted just recently in June, our dedicated team of senior officers and technical experts from all the ASEAN Member States have convened to deliberate, exchange expertise and knowledge, to finally cement the foundation of the ASEAN Health Sector for the next 5-years. It is therefore my greatest pleasure to present to you today, the official launch of the ASEAN Strategic Health Agenda (ASHA) 2026–2030.
Excellencies and distinguished delegates,
6. This Agenda represents more than just a policy document; it is our collective promise to over 600 million citizens of ASEAN to build a community that is fundamentally healthy and resilient. As we navigate an increasingly complex global health landscape, this comprehensive health agenda represents the culmination of intense collaboration that defines our regional health sector.
7. The ASHA 2026-2030 is a meticulously crafted roadmap to guide our regional cooperation across the FOUR (4) primary ASEAN Health Clusters (AHC):
a. AHC 1: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol reduction.
b. AHC 2: Responding to All Hazards and Emerging Threats: Strengthening our regional health security architecture against infectious diseases and environmental hazards.
c. AHC 3: Strengthening Health Systems and Access to Care: Ensuring our infrastructure and workforces are capable of providing safe, quality and equitable health services.
d. AHC 4: Ensuring Food Safety: Guaranteeing that the food sustaining our people is safe for consumption.
Excellencies,
9. The path to 2030 requires unwavering political will and seamless intersectoral collaboration. As we launch this Agenda, let us reaffirm our dedication to a "One ASEAN" spirit of ASEAN Centrality that protects our public health and secures our shared future.
10. Our theme for this meeting, "Synergizing health systems for Resilience, Well-Being and Health Security" addresses the very core of our mission. Resilience cannot be achieved in isolation, therefore we must break down silos and build synergies necessary to ensure no ASEAN community is left behind.
11. On that note, allow me to share a key milestone for Malaysia: the Lung Health Initiative as a fundamental human right for all, which integrates care pathways for lung diseases, particularly in tuberculosis, COPD and lung cancer. Through nationwide, AI-assisted screening, we are actively pivoting from 'sick-care' to proactive early detection. We welcome fellow ASEAN Member States to explore and adapt this model as we collectively work toward stronger, more resilient health systems across our region.
12. In addition, Malaysia also looks forward to marking an important milestone with the handover of Malaysia’s Rare Diseases Playbook. We hope this Playbook will serve not only as a practical resource, but also a catalyst for sharing best practices and strengthening collaboration across ASEAN. Importantly, the Side Event will also discuss regional actions and priorities to support the WHO Global Action Plan on Rare Diseases, including coordination, knowledge sharing, and equitable access to diagnosis, care and treatment across ASEAN.
Excellencies and respected colleagues,
13. I express my sincere appreciation to the ASEAN Secretariat and the Health Division for their support in the publication of this Agenda. Most importantly, I thank my fellow Ministers and all Member States for the solidarity and consensus-building towards making this launch possible. Not to forget, to all our ASEAN Partners for their contribution and vast expertise, driving this aspiration towards a meaningful reality.
14. I wish to commend and congratulate all of you for this excellent outcome. Let us give ourselves a well-deserved round of applause for this important achievement. May this Agenda serve as a beacon of hope and a framework for excellence as we strive together for a healthier, more resilient and future-ready ASEAN.
Syabas dan Tahniah!
Thank you and Terima Kasih.
SOURCE: Ministry of Health Malaysia
--BERNAMA
