At the 5th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in April 2000, the Ministers adopted a vision of “Healthy ASEAN 2020” which envisioned that by 2020, ‘health shall be at the center of development and ASEAN cooperation in health shall be strengthened to ensure that our peoples are healthy in mind and body, and living in safe environments’.

Overview
The US-ASEAN Business Council's Life Sciences Working Group is now called the Health & Life Sciences Working Group. While continuing to undertake established initiatives that are necessary for the improvement and development of the business climate in the life science industry, recent events such as SARS and Avian Influenza have challenged public health systems which have highlighted the need to extend the groups’ efforts in assisting ASEAN countries with their public health care policies. This extended focus recognizes that a healthy population will significantly contribute to the economical well being of the ASEAN region.

The working group is chaired by Leslie Mancuso, President and CEO, JHPIEGO and co-chaired by Stephen Braim, Vice President, Government Programs Asia Pacific, IBM Asia Pacific.

Mission Statement

1. To engage the ASEAN governments in dialogue in an effort to work collaboratively to identify policies and help build institutions that enhance each country’s respective life sciences and investment environment.
2. To assist in coordinating the spread of policy recommendations and industry expertise of this sector in the countries of Southeast Asia.
3. Strengthen protection of patents and other intellectual property rights.
4. Harmonize and standardize policy and regulatory practices in the region.
5. Promote recognition and reward for innovation by improving access to new life-saving technologies in ASEAN.
6. Lower regulatory and distribution barriers for life science products.
7. To engage the ASEAN governments in dialogue in an effort to assist with their current public health care systems.

To learn more about the Council's Health & Life Sciences Working Group, please contact:
Susan McKinney
Coordinator, Health & Life Sciences Working Group
Program Manager
smckinney@usasean.org

July: ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM). Philippines. Contact: Susan McKinney at smckinney@usasean.org

August: Health & Life Sciences Working Group Meeting. Singapore. Contact: Susan McKinney at smckinney@usasean.org

August 4-9: ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting.. Philippines. Contact: Susan McKinneu at smckinney@usasean.org

November: Health & Life Sciences Working Group Meeting. Singapore. Contact: Susan McKinney at smckinney@usasean.org

more upcoming events

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 Birthrates Help Keep Filipinos in Poverty Washington Post, Apr 21

 Asia's first research centre for palliative care opens in Singapore Channel News Asia, Mar 18

 Health Ministry to push for discounts Bangkok Post, Mar 10

 Vietnam eyes expansion of biotech industry Thanh Nien, Mar 10

 No cancellation of CL for cancer drugs : Chaiya The Nation, Mar 4

APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum
Anti-Counterfeiting Health Products Seminar
Building International Cooperation to Protect Patients

Singapore
January 13-15, 2008 and March 30 - April 2, 2008

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Life Sciences Innovation Forum along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, together with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority and the U.S. – ASEAN Business Council held a series of two seminars in Singapore to enhance international awareness of the dangers of trade in counterfeit medical products, and to maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical products and medical devices supply chain. For more information on the Seminars, click here.

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Workshops on Anti-Counterfeiting of Pharmaceutical Products

Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila
15, 17, 19 January 2007

Above: Jeff Gren of US Dept of Commerce, Health and Consumer Goods, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology is one of the panelists during the Workshop

The US-ASEAN Business Council organized "A Workshop on Anti-Counterfeiting Pharmaceutical Products" in three cities: Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila on Jauary 15, 17, and 19. The goal of these workshops is to raise the awareness level of the public health and social problems associated with counterfeit pharmaceuticals in ASEAN. Through the sharing of best practices and addressing these problems with public-private partnerships, the Workshop helps facilitate the ASEAN government's capabilities for enforcement measures taken specifically for pharmaceuticals. Generously supported by Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group, and the Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Association of the Philippines. For more information on the workshop click here or contact Susan McKinney at smckinney@usasean.org.

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