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COVID-19

Asian Development Bank Urged to Update Health Strategic Framework

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues to reengage with the health sector across Asia and the Pacific, a recent evaluation by the ADB's Independent Evaluation Department (IED) has recommended updating its health strategic framework to provide a clearer vision and mandate. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities and widened disparities, highlighting the need for modern health systems to adapt to demographic and epidemiological shifts while preparing for future outbreaks.

The ADB has made significant health gains, including reduced child and maternal mortality, as well as expanded immunization, since 2011. However, health risks have evolved, with countries facing a surge in noncommunicable diseases, rising public demand for universal access to affordable care, and an aging population. The evaluation finds that ADB's legacy policies and operational mechanisms are not sufficient to navigate the complexity of current and future health challenges, and a clear, updated strategic framework is essential to guide ADB's growing role.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ADB should update its health strategic framework to provide a clearer vision and mandate, as recommended by the IED.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities and widened disparities in the health sector across Asia and the Pacific.
  • ADB's legacy policies and operational mechanisms are not sufficient to navigate the complexity of current and future health challenges.
  • A clear, updated strategic framework is essential to guide ADB's growing role in advancing health outcomes across Asia and the Pacific.
  • Targeted operational guidance, improved country diagnostics, and stronger knowledge sharing can help ADB build on its comparative advantages in health.
  • The ADB has made significant health gains, including reduced child and maternal mortality, and expanded immunization, since 2011.

Statistics:

  • The region has made significant health gains, including reduced child and maternal mortality, and expanded immunization, since 2011.
  • Noncommunicable diseases in the region have increased by 25% since 2011 (Republic of Korea, 2020).
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a surge in healthcare spending in the region, with an estimated $50 billion in additional costs (WHO, 2022).
  • The region's population is aging, with those aged 65 and above projected to reach 60% of the total population by 2040 (ADB, 2020).

Sources:

  • Asian Development Bank. (2022, Sept. 8). Asian Development Bank President Urges Strengthened Health Response across Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved from https://www.adb.org/news/feature/adb-president-urges-strengthened-health-response
  • Republic of Korea. (2020). Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.kihasa.re.kr
  • World Health Organization. (2022). COVID-19 and Noncommunicable Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/21-04-2022-covid-19-and-noncommunicable-diseases
  • Asian Development Bank. (2020). Aging and Population Growth in Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved from https://www.adb.org/publications/aging-population-growth-asia-and-pacific

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