The delegates pose for a group photo at the 2024 ASEAN Health Ministers' Meeting (Photo: VNA)

At the 16th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting, the Minister delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the need to strengthen the region's post-pandemic health system through increasing public health preparedness, improving access to essential health care services, investing in health infrastructure and technology, and boosting regional co-operation and solidarity.

At the 10th ASEAN+3 Health Ministers' Meeting on enhancing ASEAN health security, the Vietnamese Health Minister proposed promoting co-operation to upgrade, integrate, and link information technology systems while making use of the application of artificial intelligence in disease prevention and management to better protect people's health and ensure health security.

At the second ASEAN- Republic of Korea (RoK) Health Ministers' Meeting on Digital Transformation in Healthcare, Minister Lan delivered a speech focusing on strengthening ties and co-ordination mechanisms between ASEAN member states and the RoK on digital healthcare, including supporting medical examination and treatment, online training, timely information sharing, and co-ordination in responding to epidemics.

At the ninth ASEAN-China Health Ministers' Meeting on strengthening the health system and access to health services, Minister Lan shared information on Vietnam's health system and proposed ASEAN further strengthen the health system and improve  transparency, accountability, resilience, sustainability, flexible adaptation, and efficiency to match the new situation.

Lan said developing and innovating the health system must aim for universal coverage, paying attention to all aspects of the population, focusing on scientific research, applying high technology in disease prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, and development of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

At the ASEAN-US Special Health Ministers' Meeting on improving health and optimizing welfare in the ASEAN Region, Minister Lan emphasized the need to strengthen the social welfare system, including comprehensive social protection, sustainable funding, and community empowerment through social services and integrating health and social services to improve overall well-being and address the complex needs of individuals and communities.

Minister Lan also took part in a sideline bilateral meeting with Japanese Senior Vice Minister for Health, Labor and Welfare Hamachi Masakazu (Photo: VNA)

On the sidelines of the meetings, Minister Lan met with Saia Ma'u Piukala, director of the World Health Organization (WHO) of the Western Pacific Region, to discuss increasing WHO support for ASEAN, including Vietnam.

Minister Lan also took part in a sideline bilateral meeting with Japanese Senior Vice Minister for Health, Labor and Welfare Hamachi Masakazu to bolster bilateral health co-operation and Japanese support for the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).