Regional collaboration can go a long way in strengthening health data capacity across ASEAN. With many health challenges and policy priorities shared across countries, there are real opportunities to learn from one another, align methods, and pool technical expertise.
To address this, NUS SSHSPH and CMB Foundation convened 15 national experts and researchers from ASEAN institutions in Singapore on 3 February 2025 to explore establishing a regional network focused on strengthening data capacity for health policy and health systems.
Representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore came together for the meeting. Participants included colleagues from Ministries of Health, schools and institutes of public health and policy, and other organisations, who shared what they are currently working on and surfaced common gaps.
A priority issue that came through clearly was the need to strengthen technical capacity to use data more effectively for health policy and health system analysis.
Across the discussion, three main areas emerged for cross-country learning and collaboration:
- Building better data systems,
- Strengthening capacity for burden of disease and health risk assessment, and
- Advancing how we measure and improve health system performance.
The meeting wrapped up with a shared commitment to move forward as a member-led consortium, supporting ongoing collaboration, peer learning, and knowledge exchange across the region.
We thank Dean Prof Teo Yik Ying for his opening remarks, and all participants—including the NUS-IHME Global Burden of Disease Research Centre, Precision Public Health Asia, and the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies—for contributing to this convening.