Since HealthSpace.Asia has been initiated as an follow up activity for the Lancet Series, Southeast Asia in April of 2011, it has been through 8 months period of the soft launch phase. The network has gained success in extending its memberships and partnerships within the region. Now the platform is official launched at Centara Grand Bangkok by the afternoon of 28 January, 2012. Above 50 health experts including the representatives of the sponsors (CMB, IDRC, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies etc), the steering committee of HSA from different countries of the region (China, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam etc) as well as some participants of PMAC 2012 ( Prince Mahidol Award Conference) joined this important milestone of our network.

Keynote speeches and panel discussion on foresight, innovations, social media, and health implications in Asia were a part of the event. Dr Pun - Arj Chairatana, managing director of Noviscape Consulting Group, gave the speech on "Asia in 21st Century and Health System Implications". He emphasized five important points - identity, consumption, mobility, Urbanization and Democratization - to be considered regarding the health system for 21st Century.

Ms. Alice Garabrant, a program officer Results for Development Institute and CHMI (Center of Health Market Innovations) introduced the "Innovative Health Development in Asia" and how the programs of CHMIworks to achieve the health development. She mentioned that the current state of health markets in developing countries makes it difficult for poor people to access quality, reasonably priced care. And this leads to poor healthcare outcomes and great financial risk to poor patients. Based on extensive review of existing approaches with potential to improve the performance of health markets, the CHMI identified five distinct categories of Health Market Innovations: Organizing Delivery (e.g. franchises, chains, professional assoc), Financing Care (insurance, vouchers – give consumers purchasing power), Regulating Performance (by gov or private, accreditation), Changing Behaviors (educate for better consumers) and Enhancing Processes (programs that improve delivery, operational processes e.g. IT innovations).

The important of "Social Media and Health Sector Collaboration" for improving the health development is presented by Mr. Tul Pinkaew, a social media consultant of Save The Children International. He pointed out the use of social media is getting higher and higher among the countries in Asia e.g china occupied the largest number of internet user in the world, India & Japan stand the second and third position of among the countries with highest number of facebook users in the world etc. And using the social media for building network and health development has gain successes in the present day. As a case study, we could see the campaign to end exploitation and trafficking through on air, on the ground and online has achieve anti trafficking and awareness raising to reach demographic and general public in target areas-Bangkok and Chiang Ma, Thailand.

See the slideshares below at the comment section for the presentations files of the speakers;

The President of CMB, Dr Linchon Chen is giving the welcome speech

Participants who joined the launch event

Dr Pun - Arj, one of the key note speaker (left) and Dr Piya Hanvoravongchai, the moderator (right)

Ms. Alice Garabrant is answering question from the participants

Social Media Consultant, Mr Tul Pinkaew is responding questions from the floor

Dr Budi Aji from Indonesia share his view about the presentation

One of the participants is asking question to the presenters

One of the participants is asking question to the presenters

Participants who joined the Launch

The video of the event for the presentation and panel discussion will be available soon. Please follow HealthSpace.Asia for more information.