ERIA, Philippines, and Cambodia Lead ASEAN Workshop on National Essential Diagnostics Lists

Siem Reap, Cambodia, 1-2 December 2025: ERIA, in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines as lead country of the ASEAN Essential Diagnostics Lists Initiative (AEDLI), and the Ministry of Health of Cambodia, co-hosted the AEDLI Technical Workshop on Crossing Over from Development to Implementation of National Essential Diagnostics Lists (NEDLs). The workshop brought together delegates from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and international health development partners to advance regional cooperation on diagnostic policy development and implementation.

The NEDL completes the triad of core national health lists alongside essential medicines and priority vaccines, and supports national and regional priorities on universal health coverage and emergency preparedness. It can also integrate with national healthcare and laboratory systems, health financing mechanisms, and centralised diagnostic procurement, while reinforcing related regional instruments such as the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) Priority Pathogens List. While currently centred on in-vitro diagnostics, the NEDL may eventually expand to imaging, digital health, and environmental and animal health diagnostics under a One Health approach.

Building on the momentum of the First, Second, and Third Regional Consultative Meetings held in Bangkok (June 2024), Manila (December 2024), and Bali (June 2025), the Siem Reap workshop provided technical guidance on transitioning from NEDL development to implementation.

Opening messages were delivered virtually by Dr Teodoro J. Herbosa, Secretary of Health of the Philippines; H. E. Prof. Koy Vanny, Secretary of State of Cambodia; and Dr Manami Uechi, Director of Health and Social Welfare at ERIA. They reaffirmed strong leadership support for the initiative and highlighted the importance of integrating NEDLs into national and regional health systems. They also recognised the collaboration between the ASEAN Secretariat, AMS, the ASEAN Diagnostics Security and Self-Reliance (ADx SSR) Initiative, ERIA, WHO, the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), and other development partners.

The workshop was formally opened by Chair Dr Norielyn Evangelista, Division Chief of the Office of Health Laboratories (OHL) of the Philippines. Sessions with development partners were moderated by Mr Richard Albert Ramones (OHL) and Mr Narihiro Hirai (ERIA Healthcare's Chief Programme Manager), followed on day two by AMS country reports and roundtable consultations moderated by Mr Alvin Duazo (OHL). Dr Antonio Villanueva, ERIA Senior Research Fellow and current WHO SAGE member, delivered the synthesis and outlined pathways for ASEAN to become a global model for diagnostics policy.

Expert Presentations

The programme included presentations from regional and international experts:

• Dr Safendrri Komara Ragamustari (ACPHEED) on the regional priority pathogens list.
• Mrs Nurhidayat Anwar (ADx SSR) on operationalising the regional diagnostics framework.
• Ms Yashinta Zulaika on regulatory pathways within the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) supporting AEDLI aggregation.
• Dr Shogo Kanamori (JIHS) on pathways to achieving NEDL objectives.
• Mr Naofumi Hashimoto, former WHO SAGE member, on innovations in the evolution of the Essential Diagnostics List from version 1 to version 5.
• Dr Jinho Shin (WHO WPRO) and Engr Mohammad Ameel (WHO SEARO) on strategies for NEDL implementation.
• Dr Paolo Maggiore (CHAI), Dr Neeraj Jain (PATH), and Dr Archana Beri (FIND) on areas for future collaboration.
• Dr Ranjan Kumar Choudury (WHO Collaborating Centre, India) on India's implementation progress.
• Dr Sarawat Boonsuk and Dr Pilailuk Akkapaiboon Okada (MOH-Thailand) on Thailand's strategic framework and experience as the first AMS to publish a NEDL.
• Dr Nevio Sarmento (MOH-Timor-Leste) on Timor-Leste's implementation status.
• Dr Socorro Cruz-Yañez (PH-JIHS) on the Philippines' pilot implementation.
• Ms Vivian Fensham (Independent Consultant) on the EDL gap analysis in Lao PDR.
• Mr Fabrice Gerard (Independent Consultant) on the non-IVD gap analysis in Brunei Darussalam.
• Dr Masami Fujita (JIHS) on an upcoming AI/digital health NEDL study for Thailand's border provinces.
• Engr Mohammad Ameel (WHO SEARO) on situational analysis of diagnostics policies.

Country Reports and Consultations

Day two featured AMS updates and partner consultations, followed by a plenary discussion on crossover recommendations. Highlights from AMS progress include:

• Brunei Darussalam: Developing an actionable timeline following the non-IVD field study.
• Cambodia: Draft NEDL now includes IVDs, imaging, and One Health tests.
• Indonesia: Draft NEDL integrates public health and clinical services under a One Health approach.
• Lao PDR: Preparing for public consultations on the draft NEDL.
• Malaysia: Confirmed confidence in its list and regional support mechanisms.
• Myanmar: Planning to initiate NEDL development in 2026.
• Philippines: Integrating the NEDL into the Philippine Health Laboratory System and progressing with pilot implementation.
• Thailand: Published its NEDL, the first in ASEAN.
• Timor-Leste: Finalising approval for implementation.
• Viet Nam: Reviewing its primary care NEDL.

Closing

The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Atty Christian Lel M. Saquilabon, Assistant Secretary of Health of the Philippines, and Dr Sau Sokunna, representing Cambodia as Vice-Chair of ASEAN Health Cluster 3. Both emphasised the importance of continued regional collaboration and partner engagement to ensure equitable access to quality diagnostics, and reaffirmed the continuation of the Initiative into 2026 toward an aggregate ASEAN EDL.