ASEAN, South Korea Join Forces On AI, Digital Health For Resilient Regional Care
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member states and South Korea are moving to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health, with the shared goal of building a more connected, secure and resilient regional healthcare ecosystem to improve access to care and strengthen early disease detection.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad described South Korea as an invaluable partner in advancing ASEAN's digital health agenda, calling the collaboration a crucial step towards a shared vision of an ASEAN that works together for equitable, future-ready health systems.
“The pandemic underscored the vital need for resilient and adaptive healthcare. Today, we stand at the intersection of public health and rapid technological innovation.
“By leveraging AI, data-driven insights and digital solutions, we can bridge equity gaps, strengthen early warning systems and ensure high-quality healthcare reaches every community, even at the corners of our region,” he said.
He said this in his opening remarks while chairing the 3rd ASEAN–Republic of Korea (ROK) Health Ministers' Meeting, convened during the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers' Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings here today.
Dzulkefly said initiatives such as Korea’s Big Data Policy, the technical expertise of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and Korea Human Resource Development Institute for Health and Welfare (KOHI), offered proven approaches in medical AI and digital primary care.
“By aligning our policy goals and sharing technical knowledge, this partnership helps us to strengthen universal health coverage, streamline regulatory systems, and build an interoperable, secure, and people-centred health ecosystem across ASEAN.
“As the ASEAN Co-Chair, Malaysia is committed to fostering a productive dialogue today. We look forward to adopting a Joint Statement that reflects our shared aspirations and provides clear direction for deeper collaboration in building a more connected, trusted and resilient regional health future,” he said.
Meanwhile, ROK Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Hyung Hoon, who co-chaired the meeting, said stronger digital health cooperation was crucial to bridging healthcare and digital gaps among ASEAN member states.
He emphasised that digital health had become a central pillar of ASEAN–ROK health cooperation since both sides agreed to establish a health dialogue channel at the 2019 ASEAN–ROK Commemorative Summit.
“Since then, we have strengthened human resource capacity in health and biotechnology while contributing to stronger regional health security surveillance through the ASEAN Biological Surveillance Centre (ABVC).
“The ASEAN-ROK Health Big Data Capacity Building Project, which begins this year, will serve as another launchpad for all member states to take their data capacity to the next level,” he said.
He said the initiative would help member states strengthen their capacity to harness health data and digital technologies, while ensuring that the benefits of innovation were shared more equitably across the region.
Hyung Hoon added that the ROK had identified three key objectives to advance cooperation, including connecting existing digital health infrastructure to develop interoperable health information systems.
“The second is to cooperate on strengthening governance and workforce capacity so that AI can take root safely and equitably, regardless of varying levels of digital readiness.
“Third, to bring our discussions together under the Live Together AI-Powered Health and Society framework and give our future cooperation a clear architecture,” he said.
Hyung Hoon said the theme of the 17th AHMM, "Together Towards Equitable Future-Ready Health Systems," reflected ASEAN and the ROK's shared commitment to ensuring that digital transformation benefits communities across the region, regardless of differences in digital readiness and healthcare capacity.
-- BERNAMA
