APEC endorses roadmap to tackle cardiovascular disease burden

indonesianupdates.com_admin

3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have officially endorsed a pioneering roadmap aimed at combating the rising burden of cardiovascular disease and bolstering economic resilience across the region.

The framework was launched during the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting by the APEC Health Working Group on Thursday.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of global mortality, claiming an estimated 19.8 million lives in 2022.

Health experts in the regional forum warned that demographic shifts—particularly population aging—alongside surging rates of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, continue to strain healthcare infrastructure and household finances across member countries.

Led by Thailand with co-sponsorship from Peru and the Philippines, the initiative provides an evidence-based framework covering the full continuum of care, spanning prevention, early diagnosis, medical treatment, and long-term rehabilitation.

Chair of the APEC Health Working Group Dr. Junghwan Park emphasized that the strategy marks a critical milestone for regional health policy.

“This roadmap, the first of its kind in APEC, marks a critical shift in how we approach cardiovascular health, not merely as a shared clinical challenge, but as a foundational pillar of economic resilience,” Park said in a statement issued by the APEC Health Working Group.

He added that bridging the gap between health and financial planning remains essential to safeguarding public health, maintaining workforce productivity, and securing sustainable regional growth.

Designed as a voluntary and non-binding initiative, the strategy grants member nations the flexibility to align implementations with their unique domestic health priorities while fostering regional knowledge exchange.

Echoing the sentiment, Deputy Director General of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health Dr. Phongsak Nitikaroon highlighted the necessity of cross-border collaboration.

“No single economy can overcome the escalating burden of cardiovascular disease in isolation. By sharing knowledge and experience, we can strengthen health systems and build a more resilient response to this common threat,” Nitikaroon remarked.

The new blueprint aligns with broader APEC initiatives to reinforce health system sustainability across the Asia-Pacific, underscoring public health as a core driver of long-term economic stability.