Bandar Seri Begawan, 22-23 November 2022: Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2nd ASEAN Digital Public Health Conference tackled important topics to raise awareness of the need to invest in as well as collaborate and coordinate on better preparedness and prevention, and to leverage technology in healthcare. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies to optimise the implementation of public health policies, support population health management, and improve access to healthcare.

Hosted by Brunei’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health, the conference brought together more than 200 policymakers, health authorities, multi-disciplinary experts, and leaders from industry participants and non-governmental organisations to discuss the benefits, risks, and challenges associated with the adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in healthcare.

The event was organised by EVYD Technology and the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

H.E. Dato Dr Mohd Amin Liew , Brunei’s Minister of Finance and Economy II, and H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN, opened the conference, the latter through a video message.

Keynote speeches were delivered by H.E. Ong Ye Kung, Singapore’s Minister of Health, and Tan Sri Dr Subramaniam Sathasivam, Malaysia’s former Minister of Health.

In a health ministerial panel, public health leaders from 10 ASEAN countries gave their perspectives and insights on the issue. Ms Amelia Litania, Program Officer of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), was amongst the panellists on Maximizing the Impact of Healthcare Technology Innovation. The others were Dr Khan, Founder and CEO of BlueDot; Mr Michael Wong, CEO of Health Compass; Dr Allen, Global Healthcare Leader, Deloitte Global Health & Social Services; and Ms Von Leong, Co-founder and General Partner of Purpose Venture Capital. The discussion touched on emerging trends in health technology in the region, a data-driven future, an investment model, and challenges of governance in healthcare technology. Ms Litania shared insights from ERIA’s healthtech report.