Countries in Asia and the Pacific have made great strides in poverty reduction and economic growth in the last 50 years. However, unfinished development agendas remain, including the need to further improve health outcomes and attain and sustain universal health coverage (UHC). The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has an unprecedented impact on all facets of society, resulting in the tragic loss of life, livelihood, and economic progress. In the midst of the pandemic, countries must take urgent action to scale up effective approaches to achieve UHC, so that all people can access quality health services to improve health without experiencing unnecessary financial hardship.
ADB, the Government of Japan, and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s regional offices in the Western Pacific (WPRO) and South East Asia (SEARO) are jointly hosting this seminar at 11:00 am to 12:35 pm, GMT+8, on 17 September 2020, bringing together finance and health ministers to discuss accelerating progress toward UHC in Asia and the Pacific in the new COVID-19 era.
Livestream:
Opening Remarks:
 | Taro Aso Governor for Japan, ADB; and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Minister of State for Financial Services in Japan |
 | Masatsugu Asakawa President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Chairperson of ADB’s Board of Directors |
Keynote speakers:
 | Takeshi Kasai Regional Director of World Health Organization (WHO) – Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) |
 | Poonam Khetrapal Singh Regional Director of World Health Organization (WHO) – South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) |
 | Muhammad Ali Pate Global Director, Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) Global Practice, World Bank |
 | Gabriel Leung (Moderator) Dean of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) |
Finance Ministers:
 | Dinh Tien Dung Minister of Finance, Viet Nam |
 | Carlos G. Dominguez Governor for the Philippines, ADB; and Secretary, Department of Finance in the Philippines |
 | Suahasil Nazara Vice Minister of Finance, Indonesia |
Health Ministers:
 | Kato Katsunobu Minister of Health Labor and Welfare, Japan |
 | Pavithra Wanniarachchi Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Social Security, Health and Indigenous Medicine of Sri Lanka |
 | Neung-hoo Park Minister of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea |
 | Ifereimi Waqainabete Minister of Health and Medical Services, Fiji |
