Prof Syamsul Arifin: Time for ASEAN to Build a Strong Global Health System
Banjarmasin – Health expert from Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) in South Kalimantan Prof. Syamsul Arifin said it was time for ASEAN to build a strong global health system, reflecting on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic which hit all regions in the world, including Southeast Asia. “This global health system aims to improve health through agreed health and financial arrangements between countries,” said Syamsul in Banjarmasin, Wednesday.
He explained “global health” or global health is a population health problem in a global context, which transcends national boundaries and has political and economic impacts throughout the world. Syamsul said that global health discussed effective strategies to improve health throughout the world, reduce disparities in health levels and protect humans from global threats and equality.
Health experts must also be involved in making policies and must stand alone without conflict of interest. Syamsul emphasized that health experts must use data as evidence in monitoring the movement of pathogens, increasing awareness and looking for potential solutions that can be developed. Syamsul mentioned the goal of the global health system in terms of emergency preparedness or rapid response.
For this reason, there are several activities that can be carried out to achieve this goal, including increasing the number of personnel trained globally to prevent, recognize and respond to public health threats. It then increases the number of globally important public health events tracked and reported on. Enhance laboratory diagnostic testing, monitoring and reporting capacity globally.
“It is hoped that with a good understanding and activities carried out in the context of strengthening the global health system, all countries in ASEAN can deal with cross-country health problems quickly and effectively,” said the Professor of Public Health Sciences at the ULM Faculty of Medicine.
