Some of the biggest trends and developments reshaping medical care around the world are coming under the spotlight at this year’s Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), a major platform for cross-sector partnerships and thought leadership which is being held in Hong Kong later this month.
The Summit’s opening plenary session will look at how to build more inclusive and resilient healthcare systems, as pressing public health challenges – such as an ageing population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases – intensify healthcare demand around the world.
This high-level discussion will focus on policy making and international cooperation as two levers that can effect change.
Meanwhile, as healthcare players embrace new technologies in response to these formidable challenges, the Summit’s second plenary will explore new investment and market opportunities, as global stakeholders navigate the multi-layered economic and healthcare innovation landscape.
This year’s ASGH agenda also includes two sessions that will address the potential of AI and other new technologies to drive medical breakthroughs. These two sessions, themed Shaping the Future of Healthcare, will be run in partnership with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
ASGH is also inaugurating a dedicated Silver Health Chapter this year, to examine the multifaceted challenges and transformation opportunities presented by ageing societies.
Investment projects tailored to meet the needs of ageing populations will be a key part of this year’s InnoHealth Showcase, a dedicated exhibition area that connects startups with potential investors and partners.
The InnoHealth Showcase area will be led by the Innovation and Technology Commission, together with six local universities and Cyberport. It will highlight more than 70 healthcare start-ups and projects, including many award-winners.
The ASGH Business Hub overall will feature more than 170 tech companies from 13 countries and regions. This will include dedicated pavilions from the Shanghai and Xiamen in Mainland China, as well as from Australia and Thailand.
International Healthcare Week
ASGH, which is jointly organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, is one of the major pillars of International Healthcare Week (IHW), which kicks off on 26 May.
Other key events during IHW include the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, which is organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association.
This year’s Medical Fair will welcome some 300 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions.
In addition to pavilions and exhibitors from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Hungary, the Fair will host pavilions from first-time participants Israel, Thailand and the United Kingdom, along with debut exhibitors from Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Singapore.
As a global hub for medical innovation, Hong Kong can help drive regional collaboration and healthcare advances, highlighted Margeret Fong, the HKTDC’s Executive Director.
“The HKTDC will continue to serve as a platform for cross-sector collaboration supporting industry-academia-research partnership in fields including biotechnology, digital healthcare and smart elderly wellness,” Ms Fong said.
“We look forward to bringing together local and global experts, investors, enterprises and institutions through ASGH and Medical Fair, injecting new vitality into the Asian healthcare industry and shaping the future of the medical sector.”
