Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

13/11/2025

🌺 How are Pacific Island Countries preparing for ageing populations?

Our last on Ageing in the Pacific brought together regional experts to discuss how evidence can guide health systems and policies toward equitable and healthy ageing.

From community caregiving to faith-based outreach, age-friendly environments, and multisectoral policymaking — the conversation underscored that ageing is a call for inclusive, whole-of-society action.

03/11/2025

📢 The updated Health Systems in Transition ( ) Review is now underway!

💡 was honored to present the process at the kick-off meeting held during the Peking University Health Development Forum 2025 in Beijing.

📝 The brings together leading experts from Peking University, the China National Health Commission, and Peking Union Medical College / Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to document the structure, reforms, and future directions of China’s health system.

🙏 We’re grateful to Dr Ren Minghui—Director of the Beijing Institute for Health Development and the China Center for Health Development Studies at Peking University—for facilitating a fruitful discussion with our authors.

🤝 The kick-off reaffirmed our shared commitment to credible, collaborative, and policy-relevant research for stronger health systems.

27/10/2025

24/10/2025

🎥 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨?

In this presentation at the last , Dr Anna Palagyi, Program Lead for Ageing and Health Systems at The George Institute for Global Health, Australia, and Editor of APO’s policy brief on population ageing in Pacific Island Countries ( ), shares insights and policy recommendations from , the Federated States of Micronesia ( ), and .

Her discussion highlights opportunities to strengthen health systems for equitable ageing across the Pacific.

21/10/2025

🎥 Missed our on Ageing in the Pacific?

Catch up on the full recording and revisit the insightful discussion on how Pacific Island Countries ( ) are preparing their health systems and policies for population ageing.

The session unpacked findings from ’s policy brief, featuring trends and policy recommendations from , the Federated States of Micronesia ( ), and .

Timely, as takes place in , spotlighting the Pacific’s leadership in advancing resilient and equitable health systems.

20/10/2025

📚 is proud to showcase three policy briefs and one comparative country study at the booth — highlighting evidence to strengthen policymaking and health systems across Asia Pacific.



World Health Organization Western Pacific Region

07/10/2025

📚 The 2018 Philippines Health Systems in Transition ( ) Review is ’s most downloaded publication across the Asia Pacific! A certified hit! 🥇

is proud to kick off the updated HiT, advancing evidence-informed policy and collaboration together with the Department of Health (Philippines) and the Ateneo School of Government.

🤝 Special thanks our co-authors and partners from the , Philippines, and .

📸 Photos courtesy of the Ateneo School of Government.

01/10/2025

📣Echoing Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, Regional Director of World Health Organization Western Pacific Region: "𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦."

🤝At , we are working with partners to strengthen health systems and policies for population ageing through collaborative evidence-generation.

👉Our recent 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 ( ) presents policy recommendations for governments and partners in , the Federated States of Micronesia ( ), and .

⭐This Friday (3 October 2025, 11:00 AM Manila Time UTC+8), join leading researchers and experts at our #𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜.

At the APEC - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy, leaders embraced ageing not as a challenge – but as an opportunity to redesign systems for lifelong well-being.

Tap the link below to learn how WHO is supporting Member States in the Western Pacific to build healthier societies for every generation.

29/09/2025

🌏 How can the health sector in the Pacific Island Countries prepare itself for the ageing population?

Join us at the upcoming on Ageing in the Pacific: Strengthening health systems for population ageing in the Pacific.

📅 3 October 2025 (Friday)
🕚 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM Manila Time (UTC+8)

The webinar will highlight practical lessons and health systems and policy recommendations that can support more equitable and responsive health systems for older populations.

23/09/2025

📢 | Ageing in the Pacific: Strengthening health systems and policies for population ageing

🌏 Pacific Island Countries ( ) are experiencing rapid demographic shifts, with ageing populations bringing new challenges and opportunities for health systems. Ensuring equitable, culturally grounded, and sustainable long-term care is more urgent than ever.

💡This webinar will spotlight key findings from APO’s policy brief on ageing and bring together experts to share perspectives on how policies can better support older persons in the Pacific.

🗓️ 3 October 2025 (Friday)
🕙 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Manila Time (UTC+8)

Speaker:
🎙️ Dr Anna Palagyi, The George Institute for Global Health

Discussants:
🎙️ Dr Mai Ling Perman, Fiji National University
🎙️ Dr Ilisapeci Kubuabola, Pacific-Community-SPC
🎙️ Dr Mikiko Kanda, World Health Organization Western Pacific Region

Moderator:
🎙️Dr Nima Asgari, Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

19/09/2025

🌏 is a global health issue.

📌In 2022 alone, climate hazards affected 64 million people in Asia Pacific and caused USD 57 billion in damages. Yet, despite growing donor interest, climate and health remain underrepresented in financing proposals due to insufficient evidence, limited capacity and lengthy approval processes.

📌At the Inaugural Western Pacific Action Forum on Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems, hosted by (Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region) in , co-facilitated discussions to advance country-led evidence for action on climate-attributable health impacts in the region.

📌Our Director Dr Nima Asgari and Research Consultant Ma-Ann Zarsuelo presented insights on mapping climate projects and linking climate risks with burden of disease data across 17 countries.

📌Together with partners from the Trung tâm Nghiên cứu và Phát triển Môi trường sức khỏe-CHERAD (Viet Nam), Fiji National University (Fiji), IHPP Foundation - มูลนิธิเพื่อการพัฒนานโยบายสุขภาพระหว่างประเทศ (Thailand), Monash University Health and Climate Initiative (Australia), and World Health Organization Western Pacific Region, APO is co-developing methodologies tailored to climate-related risk profiles and burden of disease at country level.

📌Strengthening climate–health evidence is not only essential for unlocking financing, but also a priority for the upcoming World Health Organization Western Pacific Region Regional Committee Meeting ( ) this October.