The emergence of regional and global health epidemics—including severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza and H1N1 influenza—impacts not only the health sector but also agriculture, trade, tourism, transportation and business. APEC's wide-ranging economic work program makes it uniquely positioned to address the multi-sectoral impact of today's health threats.
In October 2003, APEC established the Health Task Force (HTF) to help address health-related threats to economies' trade and security, focusing mainly on emerging infectious diseases, including naturally occurring and man-made diseases.
In 2007, after a review of the APEC fora, the HTF was upgraded in status to become the Health Working Group (HWG).
To respond to the recommendations of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE), the HWG and Life Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF) met in March 2011 in Washington DC, with the purpose of exploring possible areas of cooperation.
The HWG has launched several initiatives to introduce more substantive policy discussions into the working group’s activities as well better integrating APEC’s work within the broader global health agenda.
In addition to engaging with other APEC fora and international organizations like the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the Association of South East Asian Nations, the HWG has positioned itself as a regional health forum dedicated to demonstrating the value of health to economic growth and development and to building awareness of the return on investment on health innovation.
The HWG’s mandate, goal and the objectives are as follows:
Mandate
The mandate of the Health Working Group is to work with partners to improve people’s health and well-being, aiming to promote trade, security, inclusive growth and development in the APEC region.
Goal
The goal of the Health Working Group is to help reduce the impact of health-related threats to the economy, trade and security of member economies. The Health Working Group aims to strengthen health systems to increase their efficiency, responsiveness and resilience to achieve and maintain universal health coverage.
Objectives
- To enhance preparedness and response to public health emergencies and disasters, including prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
- To strengthen health systems to improve accessibility, sustainability and quality of healthcare
- To support healthy populations across the life-course, including the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and improved maternal, newborn and child health
- To encourage and facilitate collaboration between health and other sectors, other APEC fora and international health bodies
Last page update: January 2025
Contacts
HWG Chair 2024-2025
Director General
Office of International Technical Cooperation
Ministry of Health, Peru
HWG Chair’s Assistant
Office of International Technical Cooperation
Ministry of Health, Peru
Program Director
Current Activities
Health Working Group Meeting
The APEC Health Working Group convenes twice annually during APECs Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM1 and SOM3). These meetings bring together health experts and policymakers to review progress, address emerging health challenges, and ensure alignment with APEC's broader economic and social goals.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HWG has prioritized three key areas — Digital Health, Mental Wellness, and Vaccination — making them standing agenda items. The group also emphasizes the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening health systems to promote inclusive and sustainable growth across the region.
APEC 2025 Priorities
Under Korea's theme for APEC 2025, "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow," the HWG will focus on three main priorities:
1. Strengthening Global Cooperation for Health Crises: The HWG will prioritize building resilient health systems and enhancing regional preparedness for future pandemics. This includes advancing innovative technologies in vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and diagnostics, fostering public-private partnerships, and enhancing both global and regional collaboration. Efforts will also emphasize pandemic preparedness, capacity building for public health agencies, and strengthening emergency operations centers as frontline response mechanisms.
2. Improving Universal Health through Digital Technology: The HWG will focus on improving health outcomes by leveraging digital technologies. This includes bridging the digital divide, improving access to reliable health information, and advancing healthcare systems with digital tools. Discussions will cover promoting digital health innovation, enhancing community-based care, supporting mental health services, aiding aging populations, and integrating healthcare systems. Additionally, efforts will advance infectious disease management through digital technologies, data integration, and AI-based predictive models.
3. Shared Prosperity through Overcoming Health Challenges: The HWG will address health challenges exacerbated by climate change, environmental factors, food insecurity, and energy issues, particularly for vulnerable populations. Key areas of focus will include improving access to vaccines, supporting elderly health, and addressing the needs of marginalized groups, such as women and persons with disabilities. The group will concentrate on UHC, healthcare workforce development, demographic shifts, and the health impacts of climate change. Collaborative efforts will target aging populations, immunization programs, and One Health approaches.
High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy (HLMHE)
The High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy, also known as the Health Ministerial Meeting, is hosted by APEC to discuss the economic impacts of health challenges. These high-level dialogues are crucial in shaping future health policies and fostering collaboration among APEC economies to build a resilient and inclusive healthcare system. The 14th HLMHE was held in Lima, Peru, in August 2024.