ASEAN and the UK Launched Partnership for Health Security

Climate change poses public health risks as it triggers extreme weather patterns and alters ecosystems. These risks are particularly heightened in areas where the health infrastructure is weak or unequal. In this light, the United Kingdom and ASEAN launched a health security partnership aimed at enhancing the response to health threats.

Increasing Health Risks

Public health emergencies strike the most vital pillars of our society. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, we were forced to stay at home, and the world came to a halt. In the ASEAN region, the pandemic resulted in over 35 million cases and 366,000 deaths, as per 2023 data. The mobility restrictions also caused significant economic loss: the region’s growth rate sank by -4.0% in 2020, and almost 10 million people were pushed into extreme poverty due to job loss in 2021.

The lingering aftermath of the pandemic underscores the need for continued vigilance against similar health threats, particularly as the climate crisis intensifies. The crisis triggers more severe heatwaves, floods, and other extreme weather events, which take a toll on people’s health, especially those with limited means to cope such as children, older people, and people with disabilities.

Furthermore, ecosystem alteration caused by climate change also leads to biodiversity loss, changes in their behavior patterns, and a decline in environmental health that ultimately affects human health as well. For instance, climate-induced weather events contribute to the expansion of mosquito breeding grounds and exacerbate the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.

ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership

The multilayered risks necessitate improvements in health security. In July 2025, the UK and ASEAN launched the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership, a five-year initiative aimed at strengthening the region’s capacity to respond to health threats and enhancing access to primary healthcare. It will focus on three key areas: One Health, Climate & Health, and Pandemic Preparedness.

“The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that no country is immune to global health threats,” said Sarah Tiffin, the UK Ambassador to ASEAN. The One Health approach mentioned means recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their environments, and seeking to improve their overall health.

The health partnership will provide grants and technical support, as well as capacity building and opportunities for collaboration. The overall aim is to improve health system resiliency and pandemic preparedness, encompassing all related aspects, including Universal Healthcare Coverage, disaster management, and antimicrobial resistance. The partnership shall advance health progress in ASEAN, such as by improving existing strategies for antimicrobial resistance and disaster health management.

Improving Resilience

Developing the capacity to adapt and mitigate health risks is a central part of building resilience. In the face of intensifying crises, international collaborations must be fostered to enable tangible actions, policies, and innovations to support health security across borders.

It is also important to note that, in terms of the One Health approach, protecting human health should not come at the expense of animal and environmental health, as they are interconnected. Ultimately, a holistic, multi-faceted approach is required to leverage opportunities and address challenges in health security for short-term responses and long-term management.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Madina is the Assistant Manager for Digital Publications at Green Network Asia. She graduated from Universitas Indonesia with a bachelor's degree in English Literature. She has three years of professional experience working on GNA international digital publications, programs, and partnerships particularly on social and cultural issues.