Tokyo, 28 February 2025: ERIA participated as one of the expert speakers on Indonesian healthcare in a seminar titled ‘Indonesia Health Challenges in Asia Healthcare Initiative: A Knowledge-Sharing Session,’ which was organised by Japan’s National Healthcare Policy Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. This event was held as part of the memorandum of cooperation between the Japanese and Indonesian governments in the health sector, following Japan’s launch of the Asian Health and Wellness Initiative (AHWIN) in 2016 to ‘promote bilateral and regional cooperation that fosters sustainable and self-reliant healthcare systems in Asia.’

Dr Manami Uechi, Director of Healthcare Services at ERIA, delivered a presentation on the prospects of multisectoral collaborations in Indonesia’s medical and healthcare sector. She introduced ERIA, including its missions and visions in the region, and highlighted the Medical Excellence in Asia (MEX) Initiative, one of the Healthcare Unit’s flagship programmes. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare systems and improve service delivery based on local needs and priorities.

Dr Uechi also provided an overview of Indonesia’s key socioeconomic and health information, outlining major challenges such as limited healthcare accessibility, poverty, the triple burden of malnutrition, and the rapidly increasing prevalence of preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like obesity and diabetes. In addition to addressing these issues, she emphasised Indonesia’s unique and dynamic potential and the promising opportunities for key healthcare stakeholders in both countries to expand multisectoral collaborations and drive innovations.

Alongside ERIA, other health experts and Japanese health companies explored solutions for Indonesia’s healthcare challenges. This seminar is expected to serve as an important milestone in promoting AHWIN in Indonesia, fostering future collaboration and partnerships with the Japanese enterprises. The event concluded with closing remarks by H.E. Hideo Suzuki, Japan’s Ambassador for Global Health, followed by a vibrant networking session amongst participants.