IntroductionBurden of DiseasesNetworking Workshop

The ASEAN Member States (AMS) are undergoing rapid economic growth, urbanization, and a demographic shift toward ageing populations. These transitions are contributing to a rise in lifestyle related risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The current NCD landscape in the AMS is characterized by high mortality rates. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, 62% of all deaths are attributable to NCDs. The burden of NCDs is disproportionately affected by younger populations in the South-East Asia Region compared to other WHO regions. Similarly, in the WHO Western Pacific Region, the pace of progress in combating NCDs remains slow.

The urgency of addressing NCDs in AMS is further reinf/orced by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG indicator 3.4.1, which targets a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs between 2015 and 2030 5. However, many AMS countries face significant challenges in accurately estimating the burden of these diseases, mainly due to limitations in data availability, quality, and analytical capacity. These challenges hinder effective policymaking and resource allocation, as governments struggle to prioritize interventions without a clear understanding of the health burden.