ADB network to boost universal health coverage in Asia Pacific

UHC PEERS bridges the gap in regional health cooperation.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a regional network to fuel the coverage of universal healthcare across the Asia Pacific.

In a statement, ADB said the Universal Health Coverage Practitioners and Experts Knowledge Exchange and Resources (UHC PEERS) “addresses a gap in regional health cooperation by providing a platform for countries to share solutions for extending coverage to underserved populations.:

The bank noted that over 1 billion people across the region still lack access to basic health services, with millions pushed into poverty due to health-care costs.

UHC PEERS will complement the UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo, allowing countries to learn from health financing reforms, service delivery innovations, and coverage expansion. The network will facilitate exchanges on reaching remote populations, integrating private sector providers, and developing sustainable financing.

ADB President Masato Kanda emphasised the economic imperative of health investments, noting that “every $1 invested in primary health care yields up to $10 in economic growth.”