KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Malaysia, through the Ministry of Health (MOH), has officially begun hosting the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings, which will take place in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 7 to 11.

The five-day meeting opened today with the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development (SOM), ahead of the ministerial-level sessions scheduled to begin on Sept 9.

The 17th AHMM marks Malaysia’s return as host after 22 years, following its previous hosting of the meeting in 2004.

Held under the theme “Healthy ASEAN: Together Towards Equitable, Future-Ready Health Systems,” the biennial meeting is chaired by Malaysia, with Myanmar serving as Vice-Chair.

This year’s meeting marks a new phase in Malaysia’s regional health diplomacy, with greater emphasis on translating policy commitments into concrete actions and measurable outcomes.

Over the five-day programme, ASEAN member states, international dialogue partners and the World Health Organization (WHO) will discuss efforts to build equitable, resilient and future-ready health systems across the region.

Key priorities at the 17th AHMM include the launch of the ASEAN Strategic Health Agenda (ASHA) 2026–2030, which will serve as a key roadmap for regional health cooperation.

The meeting will also focus on strengthening pandemic preparedness through the operationalisation of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).

Another key priority is the development of an integrated strategy to address the region’s growing dual burden of disease, encompassing both communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Malaysia’s leadership in regional health policy will also be showcased through a series of thematic side events covering issues including rare diseases, the MySPECS eye health initiative, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), lung health, behavioural insights and regional medical device regulatory initiatives.

The meeting also marks a historic milestone with the inaugural ASEAN–United States Health Ministers’ Meeting and ASEAN–Japan Health Ministers’ Meeting.

Ministerial-level engagements with other dialogue partners, including China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and WHO, will further strengthen technical cooperation and explore opportunities for greater investment in regional health.

The initiatives and policy frameworks discussed during the meeting reflect Malaysia’s commitment under the Malaysia MADANI framework, as well as ASEAN’s collective resolve to ensure that public health services remain inclusive, sustainable and resilient.

The outcomes of the meeting are expected to be translated into concrete measures aimed at improving health and well-being across ASEAN, a region home to more than 670 million people.