New ADB Network Aims for Universal Healthcare

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda unveiled the Universal Health Coverage Practitioners and Experts Knowledge Exchange and Resources (UHC PEERS), a regional peer-learning network to push the progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) in Asia and the Pacific. The news was presented at ADB's INSPIRE Health Forum, where more than 25 developing member countries were represented by government ministers and other officials, including nine ministers of health.

"To have universal health coverage is something we cannot wait any longer to achieve, and it's in our sights if we all work together towards the creation of a region where all people everywhere have access to the care they need, without financial constraint," stated Masato Kanda, President of Asian Development Bank, emphasizing UHC as a driver of resilient, sustainable, and inclusive development.

Key Highlights-

• ADB launches UHC PEERS to promote health coverage across Asia and the Pacific
• New network supports peer learning on health financing and service delivery innovations
• Over 1 billion people in the region still lack basic healthcare access, says ADB

UHC PEERS aims to bridge a regional gap by providing a platform for countries to share practical solutions for increasing coverage among underserved groups. With more than 1 billion people in Asia and the Pacific remaining without access to basic healthcare and many experiencing poverty because of medical expenses, the imperative for collective learning has intensified.

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The network will complement the existing UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo, focusing on financing reforms, service delivery innovations, and sustainable models. It will also promote dialogue on reaching remote communities, integrating private sector services, and scaling up proven approaches.

“Every USD1 invested in primary health care yields up to USD 10 in economic growth,” Kanda emphasized, framing health as an economic as well as moral priority.

The launch marks a wider expansion of ADB's health engagement, with the INSPIRE Forum also covering pandemic preparedness and long-term health system resilience.