ASEAN comprises of ten Member States which form a diverse and dynamic region experiencing rapid demographic, epidemiological and socio-economic growth. These developments also pose a lot of threats and challenges to public health that health systems of Member States continuously endeavor to address.

Gaps continue to exist between and within countries in the region. In some of the countries, poverty remains the most important determinant for health status, mainly for marginalized and vulnerable groups, including those living in remote, isolated, mountainous or island communities. Many countries also face the double burden of disease: non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer are more seen in most countries, while malaria, dengue fever, tuberculosis, and vaccine preventable diseases and other communicable diseases remain a burden for some countries.

Globalization, trade liberalization and community integration presented developmental opportunities for the region. These also resulted to rapid urbanization and industrialization, increased migration and travel, mushrooming of mega-cities and overpopulation, pollution and environmental problems to name a few. The region is also prone to natural diseases and is increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change.

As an ASEAN Community, Member States believe that efforts and resources of each national health system geared towards protecting and improving the health of their peoples will have maximum outcomes when done in a collaborative, complementary and synergistic manner. Since its establishment in 1980, the ASEAN Health Cooperation has gone a long way in protecting the region from high-impact public health emergencies such as SARS, HPAI H5N1, 2009 H1N1 pandemic, MERS-CoV, Ebola virus disease and Zika virus, and in collectively engaging with populations in the prevention and control of specific conditions, such as non-communicable diseases.

The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The ASEAN Health cooperation is under the ASCC pillar.