(Bandar Seri Begawan, 9th) The 14th ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) Council Meeting was grandly held at the International Convention Centre in Brunei during the 2025 International Non-Communicable Diseases Conference and Exhibition.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Hajah Rafidah, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Brunei. In her speech, she pointed out that Brunei is expected to transition from an 'ageing nation' to an 'aged nation' in the coming decade, emphasizing that all member states need to strengthen regional cooperation and promote public health and active ageing development.
This meeting also welcomed the new chairman of the council—Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand—who officially assumed office.
The meeting highlighted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health issues have become the main health challenges for the ASEAN elderly population and are among the leading causes of disability, disease burden, and mortality. Without effective prevention and intervention measures, these issues will have profound socioeconomic impacts on the region. Therefore, ASEAN countries must strengthen public health actions, improve healthcare and social systems, and ensure that everyone can age healthily, actively, and productively.
The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) was established on May 20, 2020, and is committed to promoting knowledge and innovation exchange to support countries in formulating and implementing policies that foster the development potential of the elderly. The centre actively builds a regional cooperation platform, enhancing collaboration among ASEAN member states, international organizations, and relevant partners to jointly promote healthy and innovative ageing.
This meeting was chaired by Dr. Opas, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. Attendees included council members and alternate representatives from ASEAN member states, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, ACAI Secretariat, as well as senior officials from Brunei’s Ministry of Health. The meeting focused on institutional management matters, progress of ongoing projects, and future strategic directions, further consolidating ACAI's leadership in promoting regional healthy ageing and innovative development.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Hajah Rafidah, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Brunei. In her speech, she pointed out that Brunei is expected to transition from an 'ageing nation' to an 'aged nation' in the coming decade, emphasizing that all member states need to strengthen regional cooperation and promote public health and active ageing development.
This meeting also welcomed the new chairman of the council—Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand—who officially assumed office.
The meeting highlighted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health issues have become the main health challenges for the ASEAN elderly population and are among the leading causes of disability, disease burden, and mortality. Without effective prevention and intervention measures, these issues will have profound socioeconomic impacts on the region. Therefore, ASEAN countries must strengthen public health actions, improve healthcare and social systems, and ensure that everyone can age healthily, actively, and productively.
The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) was established on May 20, 2020, and is committed to promoting knowledge and innovation exchange to support countries in formulating and implementing policies that foster the development potential of the elderly. The centre actively builds a regional cooperation platform, enhancing collaboration among ASEAN member states, international organizations, and relevant partners to jointly promote healthy and innovative ageing.
This meeting was chaired by Dr. Opas, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. Attendees included council members and alternate representatives from ASEAN member states, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, ACAI Secretariat, as well as senior officials from Brunei’s Ministry of Health. The meeting focused on institutional management matters, progress of ongoing projects, and future strategic directions, further consolidating ACAI's leadership in promoting regional healthy ageing and innovative development.