The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized the 23rd GMS Ministerial Conference on 17-18 November 2019 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with the theme “Greater Integration, Inclusivity and Sustainability in the GMS.”  The meeting brought together GMS Ministers and Senior Officials of the six GMS countries—Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam —

Ministers of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries launched the GMS Health Cooperation Strategy 2019–2023, which provides a framework to guide GMS countries in collectively tackling health issues impacting the subregion through regional cooperation at the 23rd GMS Ministerial Conference (MC-23) held on 18 November 2019 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Risk communication is a critical component of countries’ effective response to health emergencies. This is why it is one of the focus areas of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED), the common strategic framework for World Health Organization member countries of the Asia Pacific region to effectively detect, prepare for, and respond to threats posed by emerging infectious diseases. Risk communication helps inform decision making, encourage positive behavior change, and maintain public trust.  

The Ministers of the six member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are set to lay the groundwork for the preparation for the 7th GMS Summit of Leaders. 

Hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the 23rd GMS Ministerial Conference (MC-23) will take place in Phnom Penh on 18 November 2019, with the theme "Greater Integration, Inclusivity and Sustainability in the GMS.”   

Dr. Phouthone Muongpak, Deputy Minister of Health of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) underscored the importance of considering health indicators, in particular child nutrition, when it comes to investments in health. Reducing malnutrition continues to be a key challenge in Lao PDR, one that requires political, financial, and collaborative efforts from all sectors and levels, according to Dr. Muongpak.

Financial resource mobilization by the Malaria Trust Fund has helped eradicate malaria and build strong foundations for health systems in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

This 5-year strategy identifies operational priorities for health cooperation for 2019–2023. It is a product of extensive consultations with members of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on Health Cooperation, GMS government stakeholders, and other GMS partners.

The Greater Mekong Subregion Health Cooperation Strategy 2019–2023 was approved by the Ministry of Health of Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Viet Nam; National Health Commission of People’s Republic of China; Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar; and Ministry of Public Health of Thailand.

Thailand has adopted progressive policies that guarantee migrants’ access to many essential services regardless of legal status, including education and health care.  However, barriers continue to hamper their use of these services in practice, says a United Nations report.

This is the summary of proceedings from the second meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion Working Group on Health Cooperation (WGHC-2) in Yangon, Myanmar on 10 to 11 December 2018.