ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners, ADB provides quality development solutions to solve the region’s complex challenges.
Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
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ADB supports projects in developing member countries that create economic and development impact, delivered through both public and private sector operations, advisory services, and knowledge support.
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Health
ADB is working across developing Asia to support improved health care provision for poverty reduction and improved human capital.
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Noncommunicable diseases, including mental health conditions, account for 74% of the world’s deaths.
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As Asia enters a new era of accelerated population aging, many countries are contemplating an increase in their statutory retirement age to access public retirement benefits.
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Asia and the Pacific has the highest number of people facing acute food insecurity worldwide.
Percentage of noncommunicable disease deaths as a proportion of all deaths in Asia and the Pacific, 2000 and 2019
Health technology-based interventions have shown promise in the fight against NCDs and mental health disorders.
Labor force participation rate in Asia by gender and age, 2000 and 2021
There is an opportunity to realize a “silver demographic dividend” by harnessing the potential of healthy and productive older people.
Prevalence of food insecurity and undernourishment
Ecosystem degradation continues to place enormous pressure on the Asia’s vulnerable and fragile food systems.
ADB recognizes that investments in health systems and universal health coverage (UHC) plays a crucial role in achieving and sustaining health and economic outcomes. In pursuit of UHC, developing member countries (DMCs) are facing the challenges of persistent infections and malnutrition, rapid urbanization, demographic shifts and rapid aging, rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health issues, need for regional cooperation and digitalization of health processes; and health threats due to climate change and pandemics. Indeed, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic exposed critical shortcomings in health systems of DMCs including regional cooperation in disease surveillance and control. Achieving UHC and responding to these challenges require increased investments and systemic reforms in sustainable and resilient health systems.
ADB has therefore been supporting DMCs (i) improve health governance and policies, (ii) enhance health financing, (iii) expand sustainable and resilient health infrastructure and systems, (iv) strengthen human resources for health, (v) enhance pandemic preparedness and response, (vi) ensure gender equality in health, and (vii) increase private sector participation in health. There is also an increasing number of cross-sectoral projects with the health sector working with energy, urban, water and sanitation, agriculture, transport, social protection, and education. This is complemented by increasing focus on knowledge and solutions generation and dissemination, and partnering and convening. All contributing to inclusive, sustainable, prosperous, and resilient health systems and improved health outcomes in Asia and the Pacific.
Our Impact
Results delivered in 2024 from ADB projects.
23 million
People benefiting from improved
health services, education services, or social protection
13
Health services
established or improved
67.38 %
Universal health-care coverage
service index
Your Questions Answered
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What role can the private sector be playing in extending quality healthcare, particularly to the poorest, in ADB’s developing member countries?
ADB is working with the private sector to invest in hospital services and increase delivery in rural and underserved areas. As a significant investor, ADB works with private actors to adopt gender and socioeconomic equity when investing.
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Is Asia and the Pacific on track to reach its health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030?
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed progress in meeting health-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 targets. The pandemic severely disrupted health systems and essential health services and derailed progress in raising service coverage for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
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How has digitalization and big data impacted on the provision of healthcare in Asia and the Pacific?
Digital solutions help improve manage patient care, the collection of data for decision making, and track progress toward universal health coverage. Due to necessity during the pandemic, there was a substantial increase in telehealth and telemedicine delivered via digital platforms.
What's New
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| News from Country Offices
ADB, Mitra Plumbon Healthcare Sign Sustainability-Linked Loan to Expand Inclusive Healthcare in Indonesia
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| News from Country Offices
ADB dan Mitra Plumbon Healthcare Menandatangani Pinjaman Yang Terkait Dengan Keberlanjutan untuk Memperluas Layanan Kesehatan Inklusif di Indonesia
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| Video
Protecting Children from Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Pacific
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| Asian Development Blog
Long COVID: The Lingering Crisis
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| Asian Development Blog
Teaching AI to Help, Not Harm, Young Minds
Experts
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