The Asia-Pacific region is on the frontlines of converging climate and health risks—from zoonotic outbreaks and vector-borne diseases to chronic care disruptions during extreme weather events. As these threats intensify, incremental reforms are no longer sufficient. This high-level session explores how countries across South and Southeast Asia can build climate-resilient health systems that are adaptive, inclusive, and institutionally embedded.
The opening remarks were made by Dr. Dinesh Arora (Principal Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank). The first panel on Building a future-ready health system for a changing climate: lessons from the frontlines was hosted by Jhpiego. The second panel on Institutional and multisectoral levers for advancing climate-responsive health systems included Dr. Rasheed Hussain (Director, Department, Department of Health Promotion, WHO SEARO), Dr. Diah Satyani Saminarsih (CEO, CISDI), Dr. Leslie Ong (UNDP), Dr. Ronald Law (DOH, Philippines), and Mr. Muhammad Arshad (CEO, Federal Sehat Sahulat Program, Pakistan).
