Health Ministers in the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries have joined their counterparts of China, Japan and Korea to agree joint initiatives in future health emergencies and to discuss human resources in health arising from closer regional integration. 

The group, known as ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers, welcomed the preparation of a Strategic Framework for a second phase of the ASEAN Plus Three Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Programme. 

The Ministers congratulated the ASEAN Expert Group on Communicable Diseases (AEGCD) for its work on regional surveillance capacities and early warning and rapid response mechanisms for emerging infectious diseases in the region. 

They endorsed a programme of work that would provide the ASEAN Plus Three countries with greater opportunities to share and exchange information, experience and expertise in combating threats to health and security. They also reaffirmed their commitment for closer collaboration in addressing key priorities for health development policy coordination as follows: 

a. Communicable diseases especially HIV and AIDS, and emerging infectious diseases; 

b. Health human resources capacity-building in addressing emerging concerns for health and social welfare; 

c. Human security and safety in health; 

d. Integrated approaches, policies and programmes to address the health care needs of older persons; and 

e. Traditional medicine. 

The Ministers agreed their next meeting would be held in the Philippines in 2008.