Last week, stakeholders gathered in Bangkok for the first-ever Regional Congress on Self-Care in the Asia-Pacific to discuss the importance of interventions and policies within the region.

Throughout the proceedings, it was gratifying to see how increasing awareness and support for self-care is resonating regionally – as well as at national and global levels. WHO defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider” and considers it essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The three-day congress focused on topics including digital health, health literacy and environmental sustainability. Co-hosted by the Asia-Pacific Self-Medication Industry (APSMI), the Thai Self-Medication Industry Association (TSMIA) and the Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF), it brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, industry representatives and experts.

The congress opened with the official launch of the Bangkok Joint Initiative on Self-Care of Medical Products: Enhancing Wellbeing in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Initiative highlights the central role of self-care in promoting increased access to health and Wellbeing across the region.

During the Congress, Sylvia Tsai, Chairperson, APSMI, said, “This Initiative is an impressive multi-sectoral collaboration that promises to advance self-care and enhance policy and practice. By working together, we have the power to shape regulatory frameworks, eliminate barriers and create inclusive policies that empower individuals to leverage self-care to make better health and wellbeing decisions.”

It was great to build on the self-care commitments we have seen in the last year, including the endorsement of the Sao Paulo Declaration on Self-Care for Universal Health Coverage adopted last year by Ministers of Health of the Latin American region and the launch of a joint statement by the World Bank, HRP, WHO, UNDP, and UNFPA centered on self-care and sexual and reproductive health in the context of advancing UHC.

Self-care in Asia-Pacific

Self-care is a fundamental practice that continues to play an important role in healthcare systems in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to almost 1.9 billion people across 37 countries and areas.

According to our Economic and Social Value of Self-Care report, self-care practices in the region tend to encompass good nutrition, hygiene, exercise, and self-medication. Traditional herbal medicines are prevalent as a form of self-care across many countries, including Korea, Japan and China.

When it comes to policy, there is a critical need to broaden access to self-care in the region to improve the sustainability of health systems. We have observed significant policy developments in Asia-Pacific, including regulation to switch prescription medicines to over-the-counter (OTC) status and policy that simplifies the OTC registration process to expedite the availability of self-care options for consumers (e.g., Singapore).

Importance of health literacy

According to the Global Self-Care Federation’s Self-Care Readiness Index, many people globally and in Asia-Pacific have problems learning about their health because they have difficulty understanding written information.

Our study found limited health literacy rates in the Asia-Pacific region, ranging from a low of 7.3% in Laos to 51.5% in the Philippines on the other extreme. To address this gap in health literacy, we need to ensure that individuals are well-equipped with skills that allow them to understand their medications and ensure the quality and accessibility of digital health information so that people are able to take charge of their health.

E-labeling, for example, makes product information more accessible and understandable to the public by providing individuals with real-time information on healthcare products, multi-lingual support, improved readability and visual demonstrations. Digitalization can also support the development of e-pharmacies and wider e-commerce channels to improve access to self-care products.

On the road to 2025

Our ambition has always been to create a healthier world by promoting inclusive health systems and better self-care. We are actively pursuing the adoption of a WHO Resolution on Self-Care—not for the sake of it but because self-care is a fundamental component for the sustainability of our health systems and for the health and wellbeingwell-being of everybody.

Ahead of upcoming global health discussions, including the WHO global oral health meeting and the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs, we are advocating for policies that prioritize self-care as a critical element of Universal Health Coverage.

As we move forward, integrating self-care into our health systems represents not just a response to current challenges but a proactive strategy for a healthier future. By empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge to take charge of their health, we create resilience and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.

Together, we can ensure that every individual, regardless of background, has the resources and support they need to thrive.

Let’s commit to making self-care a foundation of our health agenda, paving the way for a healthier Asia-Pacific and a better world.

About the author

Judy Stenmark is the Director-General of the Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF), which aims to create a healthier world through promoting inclusive health systems and better self-care. Judy has had a long-standing career leading global and national NGOs in the musculoskeletal arena, with a previous eight-year tenure as head of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) in Nyon, Switzerland and nine years leading Osteoporosis Australia before that.

An Australian national, Judy has spent the last 10 years living and working in Switzerland. During this time, she has established a strong network within global healthcare institutions, including the World Health Organization, international scientific academia, and many global pharmaceutical and consumer health companies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy and a master’s in Public Health.

Image Credits: GSCF.