Photo courtesy of Dr. Pamod Amarakoon

Bangkok, Thailand – Stakeholders from across the global health community convened to address pressing challenges in health data systems, governance, and integration at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2026 Side Meeting, “Co-creating a Strategy & Framework to Protect and Prepare Communities of Southeast Asia from the Impacts of Extreme Heat,” organised by the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) Southeast Asia Hub, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation and WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region (ACE) on January 26, 2026.

The session reaffirmed concerns over the lack of awareness on the negative effects of heat in Southeast Asia and the lack of coordinated decision- and policy-making to address this problem.

Key enablers of governance, data availability, and sustainable financing were highlighted on the main panel discussion and sector-specific discussions on agriculture and children. “The takeaway from the session was that effective heat action requires cross-sectoral ownership and coordination, that is also informed and driven by community engagement, insights, and ownership”, remarked Dr. Janice Ho, Regional Hub Manager of the GHHIN Southeast Asia Hub, and lead organiser of the session.

During the Q&A, Dr. Alvin Marcelo, representing the Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN), concurred with the widespread frustrations expressed by attendees regarding data fragmentation across health systems.

Participants highlighted how disconnected data sources from facility records and disease registries to public health surveillance and regional reporting platforms hinder real-time analysis, policy alignment, and cross-sectoral action. These challenges were underscored as a major barrier to achieving integrated, people-centered care.

Dr. Marcelo briefly shared AeHIN’s strategic efforts to advance people interoperability alongside technical skills development throughout the Asia-Pacific region. His remarks emphasized that bridging data fragmentation requires not only standards and technology, but also capacity building, collaborative governance, and cross-institutional learning. 

Through AeHIN’s network-based initiatives, including training, communities of practice, and multi-country interoperability workshops, professionals are equipped with the tools and frameworks needed to connect people, processes, and systems to enable more seamless data exchange. 

About PMAC 2026

The Prince Mahidol Award Conference is an annual global health event that brings together leaders, researchers, and practitioners to discuss critical issues shaping health policy, systems, and delivery worldwide. The 2026 conference features side meetings and sessions that explore demographic shifts, equity-focused governance, and innovation in health systems. 

About GHHIN Southeast Asia Hub
The GHHIN Southeast Asia Hub is the first regional hub of the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN), a joint UN initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Based at the Heat Resilience & Performance Centre (HRPC), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), the Hub advances partnership, collaboration, and advocacy within Southeast Asia to protect and prepare for the impacts of heat on human health and well-being.

About AeHIN

The Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN) is a regional collaborative network dedicated to strengthening digital health capabilities, interoperability, and governance across the Asia-Pacific. AeHIN’s activities include standards adoption, workforce development, and multi-stakeholder dialogues aimed at aligning people, processes, and technologies to improve health outcomes. 

For media inquiries, please contact inquiries@aehin.net.