How Community-Based Medical Schools Advance Universal Health Coverage
Innovative medical schools in Asia and the Pacific are redefining how doctors are trained and helping expand the number of people who have access to health care.
Eduardo Banzon
Director, Health Practice Team, Human and Social Development Office, ADB Sectors Department
Eduardo Banzon champions Universal Health Coverage and has long provided technical support to countries in Asia and the Pacific in their pursuit of this goal. Before joining ADB in 2014, he was President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, World Health Organization (WHO) regional adviser for health financing for the Eastern Mediterranean region and WHO health economist in Bangladesh, and World Bank senior health specialist for the East Asia and Pacific region. He was also a faculty member of the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine and Ateneo Graduate School of Business and was an honorary visiting associate professor at the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. He completed BS Biology and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of the Philippines, and MSc in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 19
How Artificial Intelligence Can Transform Health Care in Asia and the Pacific
With strong governance, ethical safeguards, and investment in human skills, AI can make health services more inclusive, efficient, and resilient.
How Hospitals Can Cut Energy Use While Improving Indoor Air Quality
Hospitals in developing countries face the challenge of balancing safe air quality with rising energy demands. Evidence from the Philippines shows that leadership, data, and capacity building can enable resilient and efficient health facilities.
Four Ways Asia Can Strengthen Regional Health Security Before the Next Pandemic
Shared investment in surveillance, digital health tools, and communications coordination can boost health resilience across Asia and the Pacific.
Transport and Health: Investing in Road Safety and Post-Crash Care in Asia
Strengthening post-crash response through coordinated health and transport actions can reduce deaths, improve recovery, and build more resilient health services.
Eduardo Banzon, James Leather, Priti Gautam, Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan
Handle With Care: Four Ways to Give Asia’s Health Systems a Needed Safety Upgrade
Improving surveillance, investing in health systems, and empowering patients can prevent harm, reduce costs, and support the region’s health goals.
Empowering Women in Tourism: The Key to a Healthy, Resilient Industry
Empowering women in tourism through targeted policies can overcome barriers like limited finance and caregiving burdens, unlocking their potential to drive job creation, sustainable innovation, and economic and health resilience in times of crisis.
Six Strategies to Safeguard Tourism and Health Systems from Climate Change
Tourism, health, and climate change are intertwined in Asia and the Pacific, where rising temperatures and extreme weather threaten livelihoods and economic stability. Climate-resilient policies, partnerships, and health-focused systems are vital to mitigating these impacts and sustaining growth.
How Strengthened Regulations and Healthcare Can Prevent Lead Poisoning
Lead exposure remains a significant public health threat in Asia and the Pacific, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The global effort to address lead poisoning must focus on stricter regulations, enhanced healthcare capacity, and coordinated international action to protect vulnerable populations.
Key Strategies to Improve Mental Health Support Across Asia and the Pacific
World Mental Health Day is a timely reminder that integrating mental health care into schools, workplaces, and communities is critical for improving health outcomes and reducing costs. Expanding digital interventions and peer-support systems are also crucial, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.