Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda announced the launch of the Universal Health Coverage Practitioners and Experts Knowledge Exchange and Resources (UHC PEERS), a regional peer-to-peer learning network to accelerate universal health coverage across Asia and the Pacific, says press release issued by ADB.
The announcement was made during ADB’s INclusive, Sustainable, Prosperous, and REsilient (INSPIRE) Health Systems in Asia and the Pacific Health Forum, bringing together more than 25 developing member countries, including health ministers from nine countries.
Mr. Kanda emphasized the economic imperative of health investments, noting that “every US$1.00 invested in primary health care yields up to US$10.00 in economic growth.”
Tajikistan delegation participating in this five-day forum is headed by Gafur Muhsinzoda, First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population.
The UHC PEERS network addresses a gap in regional health cooperation by providing a platform for countries to share solutions for extending coverage to underserved populations. More than 1 billion people across Asia and the Pacific 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 and enable 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. Through peer learning, countries can adapt successful approaches while avoiding common pitfalls.
The launch reflects growing regional consensus on UHC as a development priority, as health systems face pressures from aging populations, rising noncommunicable diseases, and persistent infectious diseases.
Beyond UHC PEERS, the five-day INSPIRE Health Forum marks an expansion of ADB’s health engagement, also addressing pandemic preparedness and health system resilience, drawing lessons from COVID-19. Through ministerial exchanges, innovation showcases, and financing partnerships, the forum will document best practices for ADB’s future programming.
The INSPIRE Health Forum 2025 is the flagship event of the Health Practice Team, which is being held at ADB Headquarters on July 7-11, 2025.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Founded in 1966, the Asian Development Bank is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
