APEC Economies Target Dengue Financing Gaps as Cases Surge

APEC economies have launched a new platform to coordinate financing for dengue prevention, in Dalian on the margins of the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting, as cases across the Asia-Pacific outpace the investment needed to prevent and control them.

The APEC Community of Practice on Dengue Financing brings together member economies, donors and multilateral development banks including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, to share information and coordinate investment on dengue.  

“Turning the vision of the APEC Dengue Roadmap into reality requires not just political will, but tangible and coordinated action at the policy, technical and implementation levels,” said Dr Junghwan Park, Chair of the APEC Health Working Group.

“The launch of the Community of Practice gives APEC economies, partners and international experts a dedicated platform to collectively learn from one another and work through common challenges together,” Dr Park added.

At the inaugural dialogue, multilateral development banks and donors such as the Pandemic Fund, the Right Foundation and the Wellcome Trust underscored the initiative’s importance, noting that the amount being spent on dengue and related vector-borne diseases across the region remains largely unknown.

Discussions also focused on better understanding the region’s financing landscape and finding ways to reduce investment risks and attract more funding for dengue prevention and control. APEC economies also shared their own experiences with dengue financing and outlined the barriers they face, signaling the importance of continuing cross-border cooperation.

The initiative comes as dengue cases continue to rise across the Asia-Pacific with worldwide cases reaching 14.1 million in 2024, the highest on record.

“Financing for dengue should not be considered only as a response to outbreaks. We need to strengthen our capacity to invest in prevention, surveillance, preparedness, community engagement, vector control, innovation and resilient health systems before crises emerge,” said Magda Cristina Verano Calero, International Cooperation Specialist from Peru’s Ministry of Health, in her opening remarks at the launch.  

“This is exactly where APEC can add value. The Community of Practice on Dengue Financing offers an opportunity to move beyond recognizing the financing gap and begin identifying concrete mechanisms for coordination, joint investment and greater impact,” Calero added.  

The Community of Practice builds on the APEC Roadmap to Advance Dengue Prevention and Control in APEC Economies 2026-2030, endorsed in 2025, which sets out a regional vision for eliminating dengue deaths and reducing disease burden over the next five years.