The 22nd Greater Mekong Subregion Ministerial Conference endorsed the creation of a Working Group on Health Cooperation (WGHC) and the development of a GMS Health Cooperation Strategy.

The GMS Health Cooperation Strategy 2018-2022 will provide a framework to guide collective efforts among GMS countries, health sector stakeholders and development partners to tackle health issues impacting the subregion. It is guided by the vision of an integrated, prosperous, and equitable subregion where health and wellbeing are shared by all.

Priority areas for regional cooperation focus on three strategic outcomes:

• improved GMS health system performance in responding to public health threats;
• strengthened social resilience to the health impacts of regional integration; and
• enhanced human resource capacity to respond to priority health issues in the GMS.