Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital

The 2024 Asia-Pacific Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Workshop, jointly organized by the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health Collaborating Centres for Health Promotion (APACPH CCHP), the Taiwan Association for Global Health Initiative (TAGHI), and the Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, is held from August 6^th to August 7^th. The event featured five experts and scholars from four countries, including Dr. Yik Ying TEO, Vice President of the National University of Singapore and Deputy Director of CCHP, Dr. Masamine JIMBA, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Yumi OH, Director of the Department of Health Policy Research and Evaluation at the Korea Health Promotion Institute, Dr. Heejin KIMM, Director of the Institute for Health Promotion, Yonsei University, South Korea, and Dr. Yeun-Chung Chang, Professor of National Taiwan University College of Medicine. Together with local experts, they engaged in vibrant discussions and exchange of ideas on topics including health promotion, lung cancer prevention strategies, and the application of AI in healthcare, exploring possibilities for further multi-party collaboration.

The Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH), established in 1984, is the most prestigious public health professional non-profit academic international organization in the Asia-Pacific region, serving as a vital think tank for the health departments of various countries. In 2017, the Taiwan Health Promotion Administration and APACPH jointly established the Collaborating Centres for Health Promotion (APACPH CCHP) with the primary goal of enhancing the core capacities of health promotion among senior public health professionals in the Asia-Pacific region. This initiative aims to increase Taiwan’s visibility in the Asia-Pacific region and the New Southbound Policy countries. The CCHP Director is Dr. Hung-Yi Chiou, who is also the Director of Institute of Population Health Sciences at the National Health Research Institute. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Dr. Ya-Wen Chiu, a Research Fellow at the National Health Research Institutes. With long-term support from the Taiwan Health Promotion Administration, CCHP has organized nearly 25 international conferences, forums, and educational training workshops both domestically and abroad. It has developed trend studies focusing on non-communicable diseases, strengthened the resilience of health systems in Taiwan and partner countries, and integrated preventive measures to enhance the overall health level of the region.

International exchange, enhancing global health

On the first day (August 6^th), the representatives and experts from the National University of Singapore, the University of Tokyo, the Korea Health Promotion Institute, Yonsei University, and the National Taiwan University College of Medicine, sharing policies and case studies addressing the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in their countries. In particular, cancer has become a global health issue that poses significant burdens on national healthcare systems, human resources, and finance. The workshop, therefore, put specific emphasis on lung cancer prevention strategies and health promotion. The participants shared how their countries are utilizing cutting-edge technology and training to provide earlier diagnosis and treatment and improve the patient’s survival rate and quality of life. Dr. Masamine Jimba from the University of Tokyo presented unique insights and practical examples on the application of AI in healthcare, while Dr. Yun Chung Chang from the National Taiwan University College of Medicine shared Taiwan’s strategies and achievements in promoting early lung cancer screening. Their insightful discussions provided the audience with valuable experience and contributed to the promotion of health and well-being in the Asia-Pacific region.

To enhance the comprehensive research capabilities of Taiwan’s health promotion personnel, on the second day (August 7^th) of the workshop, we will invite seed teachers from seven universities in Taiwan and top international speakers for in-depth discussions. They will share design breakthroughs in case studies, focusing on the important contemporary issue of obesity. Rich exchanges and opportunities for international collaboration is gained through roundtable discussions, marking a perfect end to this year’s workshop. This workshop not only provides an excellent platform for Taiwan’s healthcare professionals to connect with the international community but also aims to increase opportunities for multilateral cooperation in the future.

Director-General Chao-Chun Wu of the Taiwan Health Promotion Administration stated that HPA is committed to the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases and integrates the strength of professional groups to implement the vision of Healthy Taiwan. The sharing and innovative insights given by scholars and experts from four countries at this workshop provided an enlightening discussion. He welcomed further international programs and stressed that the event connected the Asia-Pacific region with shared values and took a significant step toward the parity of health across this region, for the good of enhancing global health.

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