Timor-Leste joined ASEAN health talks, advancing regional cooperation and health preparedness systems.
Timor-Leste participated in the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 7 to 11 September 2026. The meeting was Timor-Leste’s first ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting since becoming ASEAN’s 11th member state. The discussions focused on regional health cooperation and the priorities for the coming years.
The Timorese delegation was led by Vice-Minister for Institutional Strengthening of Health Mr. José dos Reis Magno, with representatives from the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Public Health of Timor-Leste (INSP-TL). Under the theme “Healthy ASEAN: Together for Equitable and Future-Ready Health Systems”, the ministers launched the ASEAN Strategic Health Agenda 2026–2030, covering healthy lifestyles, public health emergencies, stronger health systems and food security.
Timor-Leste also participated in the 11th ASEAN+3 Health Ministers’ Meeting with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, where discussions covered health system resilience, vaccine safety, emergency preparedness, digital health, mental health and disease prevention. The delegation also joined the first ASEAN-United States Meeting of Health Ministers, which addressed laboratory systems, biosafety, disease surveillance, public health intelligence, human resources development, antimicrobial resistance and cancer prevention.
On the sidelines, Mr. José dos Reis Magno met Ms. Bethany A. Kozma, Director of the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss maternal and child health, public health capacity, knowledge exchange and technical assistance. Timor-Leste also identified opportunities to deepen cooperation in epidemiological surveillance, laboratories, research, health workforce training and preparedness for public health emergencies.
Source: Government of Timor-Leste
