Policy approaches and operational strategies discussed at a regional forum held in Bangkok on 12-13 May 2026 will help strengthen social health protection systems across Asia and the Pacific.
Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD) and the Providing for Health (P4H) Network and with the support of the governments of Luxembourg and Belgium, the event aimed to make progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Universal Social Protection (USP) in the region.
Approaches and strategies to expand population coverage, ensure adequacy of benefits and services, strengthen sustainable financing mechanisms, and improve coordination across institutions and sectors were at the centre of discussions.
Taking part were social health protection administrators, researchers, development partners, social partners and civil society organizations from across Asia and the Pacific.
"This forum brings together a wide range of stakeholders all united by a common commitment to ensure that no one is left behind in access to health and social protection," said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thunwadee Suksaroj, Director of ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University.
Participants exchanged national experiences and emphasized the importance of sustained political commitment and adequate public financing to extend effective social health protection. The forum also highlighted the role of social dialogue and inclusive policy-making processes in ensuring that schemes remain responsive to evolving demographic, labour market and health needs.
In addition, participants reiterated their commitments towards stronger coordination between health, social protection and employment policies to improve continuity of support and ensure effective access to healthcare services without financial hardship.
The exchanges also strengthened collaboration between practitioners, researchers and development partners to support evidence-based policy development and implementation.
"Social Health Protection plays a pivotal role in realizing social justice and health equity by guaranteeing affordable access to healthcare services without financial hardship. By doing so it contributes towards fairness, reduces inequity, and promotes dignity," said Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic.
During the event, operational clinics organized under the P4H Network enabled technical exchanges on practical challenges facing national health insurance institutions with participants sharing experiences and emerging practices on digitalization, financial management, monitoring and evaluation as well as institutional coordination.
"The knowledge sharing and exchange that have taken place over these two days will greatly strengthen our efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage and Universal Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific," said Nathalie Both, Project Manager of the ILO-Luxembourg Support to the Extension of Social Health Protection in Asia. "What we have learned and discussed will be put to active use and will ultimately benefit people across the region."
The event also marked the launch of the ILO publication Maternity Benefits in the ASEAN: Progress and Opportunities for Integrated Approaches across Social Protection and Health Systems. The report analyses the range, coverage and level of social protection benefits which support income security and provide financial protection against healthcare costs during maternity in ASEAN Member States.
Across the Asia and the Pacific region, countries have made significant progress in extending population coverage of social health protection mechanisms, but these advances have stalled in recent years and inequities persist in access to quality healthcare services. Making progress towards universal, adequate and sustainable social health protection in the region is therefore a growing priority, towards which this forum aimed to contribute.
© ILO
