Bali, 17–18 June 2025: ERIA co-organised the first Regional Consultative Meeting (RCM) on ASEAN Diagnostic Security and Self-Reliance (ADxSSR) in Bali, Indonesia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Indonesia, the lead country of the ADxSSR initiative in ASEAN.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministries of Health of all ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Timor-Leste, alongside the ASEAN Secretariat, particularly ASEAN Health Cluster 3. Other participants included the ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (AVSSR); ASEAN Drugs Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR); ASEAN Network for Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Traditional Medicine Innovation (ASEAN-NDI); ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACHPEED); World Health Organization (WHO); Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND); and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Since July 2024, ERIA's Healthcare Unit has worked with Indonesia’s MoH to complete a baseline survey for a regional situational analysis to inform the ADxSSR framework. This initiative aims to boost local manufacturing, ensure fair access to quality diagnostic services, encourage innovation, and align regulatory standards across the region. This meeting served as the final consultation to review key findings and gather feedback on the proposed ADxSSR roadmap.

Opening Remarks

Dr Lucia Rizka Andalusia, Director-General of Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices at Indonesia's MoH, opened the meeting. She noted that 70%–90% of diagnostic tools in the region are imported, making countries vulnerable to global supply chain issues as experienced during COVID-19.

‘Regulatory systems are not well coordinated, and there is a shortage of skilled workers in diagnostics, especially in lower-income and rural areas,’ Dr Riza noted, yet she believes that with its talent and resources, ASEAN can achieve self-reliance in diagnostics.

H.E. Dr Haji Adi Ihram bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, Chair of ASEAN Health Cluster (AHC) 3 from Brunei Darussalam, called the meeting a key milestone towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening emergency preparedness. He reaffirmed its alignment with the AHC3 Work Programme for 2021–2025 and the Joint Statement from the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) in 2022, which highlighted the importance of diagnostics in medical supplies.

Mr Naoto Okura, Director General for Research and Policy Design at ERIA, welcomed participants and reiterated ERIA’s support in developing the ADxSSR framework, which aligns with the regional push for national essential diagnostics lists (NEDLs).

Expert Presentations

The first day’s agenda included the following presentations:

• Dr Jeffri Ardiyanto, M.App.Sc, Director of Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Resilience of MoH Indonesia, explained the meeting's goals and updates on ADxSSR.
• Dr Nakorn Premsri and Dr Abdul Haniff bin Mohamad Yahaya shared lessons from the AVSSR and ADSSR initiatives.
• Ms Tina Kusumaningrum from WHO Country Office Indonesia talked about WHO’s programmes and strategy to improve access to IVDs in member countries.
• Dr Safendrri Komara Ragamustari from ACHPEED Detection and Risk Assessment explained the critical role of regional diagnostic self-reliance for timely detection and response to public health emergencies.
• Dr Emmanuel Agogo from FIND discussed the need for local production of quality IVDs.

A closed session followed. Dr Antonio Villanueva from ERIA and Mr Richard Evison from Aliro Consulting presented the results of the baseline survey, followed by feedback from AMS regarding the regional framework.

Country Responses

The second day began with a summary of the draft Regional Situational Analysis and Baseline Survey for ADxSSR by Dr Ardiyanto. After that, AMS and Timor-Leste delivered presentations in response to the country and regional reports of ADxSSR.

• Brunei Darussalam shared input on the reports while updating their NEDL development and digital healthcare.
• Cambodia highlighted key strengths of the reports and current situation value of diagnostic tests in the context of the country’s NEDL development.
• Indonesia provided detailed feedback to the regional report and its country report on manufacturing capacity and diagnostic service delivery.
• Lao PDR discussed healthcare facilities and NEDL progress as well as gave feedback on the regional and country report.
• Malaysia highlighted alignment with national priorities, key strengths and challenges of ADxSSR initiatives, and supporting activities under ADxSSR through stakeholder engagement, prioritisation of diagnostics, and improvement of regulatory frameworks.
• Myanmar noted diagnostic service delivery limitations and recommendations.
• The Philippines provided feedback on regional and country reports, with a focus on national realities, strength, gaps, challenges, opportunities, recent updates, and improvement.
• Singapore detailed the landscape, accuracy, opportunities and challenges, and SWOT analysis of manufacturing capacity and diagnostic delivery services.
• Thailand supported recommendations for regulatory harmonisation, leadership triumvirate, and workforce development while addressing key domestic challenges.
• Viet Nam requested consolidation of feedback while considering country-specific priority actions.
• Timor-Leste presented assessment results of the ADxSSR country report and regional report.

Closing Remarks

The meeting concluded with remarks from Dr Andalusia, who reiterated the importance of diagnostic self-reliance in establishing a resilient health ecosystem in ASEAN. She thanked ERIA and the ASEAN Secretariat for their strong collaboration and affirmed that feedback from the meeting would inform the final ADxSSR framework.

Dr Manami Uechi, Director of ERIA’s Healthcare Unit, closed the meeting by highlighting ERIA's commitment to supporting the situational analysis.

‘The meeting underscored the urgent need for a coordinated regional strategy. While challenges such as reliance on imported diagnostics and limited local manufacturing exist, there is an opportunity to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for regional communities,’ she said, adding that ERIA will continue to provide evidence-based research and policy support and facilitate regional dialogue.