The Asia-Pacific region is rapidly transitioning into an aging demographic. Consequently, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health issues have emerged as critical challenges threatening the long-term sustainability of national health care budgets. Digital technology also plays a pivotal role, serving as an essential tool for enhancing the efficiency of NCDs and mental health management while safeguarding national health finances. By prioritizing and investing in healthy aging, we can forge a more resilient future and realize ‘health for all’. 

Through its regional technical assistance on noncommunicable diseases and mental health (TA 10106), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Service of the Republic of Korea, organized the Technology Solutions to NCDs and Mental Health Workshop.

The five-day workshop provided insights into how successful models, such as the Republic of Korea’s health screening system, big data management system, and long-term care insurance, could be adapted and institutionalized in different national settings. Through lectures, field visits, and moderated discussions, participants strengthened their capacity to contextualize and apply the Republic of Korea’s institutional frameworks within their own national policy environments, gained practical insights into how digital technologies supported NCD and mental health management, and established a robust regional network of health experts to facilitate continuous knowledge exchange.