Mr. Joji Sugawara, Vice President of Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), took part in the 2024 Asia Health and Life Sciences Summit entitled “Partnering and Innovating for Equity and Access” held last November 11-12, 2024, in Singapore.

The summit was organized by ASK Health Asia, an international think tank and consultancy firm, in response to the growing need to transform health ecosystems across Asia through catalyzing collaboration and sharing innovations across the region. Notably, the summit also had a session dedicated to exploring the area of climate change and health, particularly in creating a climate-resilient health future for Asia. The event was participated by over 150 leaders and senior executives from over 10 countries across the Asia-Pacific.

Mr. Sugawara participated in two panel sessions. In the first session, “Cross-regional Commitment of Health Innovation for Equity and Access”, he discussed Japan’s evolving healthcare challenges, particularly those arising from its aging population. From there, he explored strategies to ensure financial sustainability, improve primary care access, enhance patient safety and transparency, as well as address long-term care needs. Finally, the role of digital innovation and technology in tackling these complex challenges was emphasized as one of the key drivers of healthcare transformation.

In the second session, “The Impact of Climate Change on Health, Calling for Industry Action,” he explained how climate change and health systems are affected bilaterally. While climate change poses major concerns for vulnerable populations (such as youth and the elderly) that would increase the need for healthcare services, the healthcare system itself is an important contributor to the climate crisis. He emphasized the critical role of industry and public-private partnerships in developing climate-resilient solutions and investing in research and innovation.

The event provided a valuable platform to discuss critical and emerging issues across health systems in the region, as well as creative solutions in addressing them. By engaging with regional and international stakeholders, HGPI strives to contribute to a resilient future for health systems in Asia and beyond.