Phuket, 6 July 2012

The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand was in full speed this week as Health Ministers from ten ASEAN Member States gather in Phuket, Thailand, for the 11th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM)–a biennial meeting.

Themed “ASEAN Community 2015: Opportunities and Challenges to Health,” the Ministers brain stormed strategies to address both positive and negative health effects that could happen after the implementation of ASEAN Community. Specifically, three sub-themes discussed included: Non Communicable Diseases; Universal Health Coverage; and Tobacco Control.

The 11th AHMM was officially opened by the Minister of Public Health of Thailand H.E Wittaya Buranasiri on 5 July 2012. After the Opening Ceremony, the Prime Minister visited the ASEAN Secretariat booth to launch two ASEAN health publications: the “ASEAN Health Profile” and “ASEAN E-Health Bulletin.”These publications show case the achievements of regional health cooperation.

The ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting is the highest body for health cooperation in ASEAN. The first meeting was held in 1980.

Click here for photos: http://www.aseansec.org/27058.php