South Korea to lead APEC health cooperation as chair of working group

South Korea is set to lead crucial discussions on regional health cooperation as it chairs the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Health Working Group (HWG) meeting in Dalian, China. The meeting, running from August 23 to 26, will see delegates from 21 member economies convene to shape the future of health in the region.

As the chair economy for 2026-2027, South Korea has been instrumental in developing the "HWG Strategic Plan 2026-2030," a five-year roadmap for health collaboration. This meeting will focus on three key themes: enhancing primary healthcare through digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), fostering "smart aging" innovations throughout the life course, and strengthening health security and community resilience.

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The Asia-Pacific Community Initiative for Brain Health for All

A significant outcome expected from the meeting is the endorsement of the "APEC Healthy Aging Action Plan 2026-2030" and the "Asia-Pacific Community Initiative for Brain Health for All." These initiatives aim to address the challenges of aging populations and promote brain health across the region. South Korea's experience in leveraging AI for healthcare will also be shared, with Professor Cha Won-cheol of Samsung Seoul Hospital presenting on the topic.

Discussions will also cover strengthening universal health coverage through smart healthcare, progress on projects related to cervical, lung, and breast cancer, and the integration of traditional and complementary medicine. A workshop on promoting healthy aging through digital opportunities and a forum on population policy will further explore strategies for adapting to demographic changes and fostering new growth opportunities through technological innovation.

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Strengthening universal health coverage (UHC) through smart healthcare utilizing AI