Managing Health Threats Through Regional and Intersectoral Cooperation

Health security is a regional public good, regional cooperation is essential to protect it.

Emerging infectious diseases and the risk of transmission in the constant movement of people, animals, and goods make health security a priority issue in Asia and the Pacific. The region is paying more attention to strengthening health security through technical and political collaboration at multiple levels. With support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), developing member countries have been building up their health systems to better respond to health security threats. A recently published paper by ADB discusses the magnitude and implications of health threats in the region. It provides an overview of global initiatives and discusses the important role that ADB can play in strengthening regional cooperation and national health systems.

Asia is a hot spot for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, including those with pandemic potential. At the same time, the region is grappling with growing antimicrobial resistance and the health impacts of climate change and frequent natural disasters, all of which pose a threat to regional health security. The reasons for high health security risk in Asia are complex—rapid economic growth, increased trade, urbanization, mobile populations, and weak health systems all play a role. Health security is a regional public good, and as such regional cooperation is essential to protect it. The International health regulations (IHR), as well as various regional frameworks, are in place to support countries to improve health security and address threats -196 countries have committed to the IHR. However, competing priorities for national budgets make implementation difficult and can lead to limited health system investment required to protect health security. Strategically, investments in health systems, as well as investments beyond the health sector, are needed. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has a long history of investing in public goods and health security and is in a unique position to support countries in these efforts. ADB can convene stakeholders, build on its existing health sector portfolio, and structure long-term financing for health.