Self-Care Momentum Builds Across Asia-Pacific: Regional collaboration drives progress across health literacy, Regulatory streamlining and Leveraging Digital Solutions

BALI, Indonesia, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Self-care is gaining momentum across Asia-Pacific, with more than 140 self-care initiatives aligned with the 2024 Bangkok Joint Initiative reported across the region in 2025

and 2026. Spanning health literacy, digital solutions, collaboration and stronger self-care governance, the initiatives demonstrate growing regional action to advance safe, accessible and sustainable self-care in the region.

Against this backdrop, the Asia Pacific Self-Medication Industry (APSMI) Summit 2026 brought together Regulators, public health leaders, healthcare professionals, academics and industry in Bali under the theme "Self-Care in Healthcare: Scaling Partnership for Better Health Outcomes." Discussions focused on the issues shaping self-care across the region, with participants exchanging perspectives and experiences on regulatory streamlining and reliance, OTC access, safe use of switched medicines, e-labelling, and the role of pharmacists and antimicrobial resistance with a focus on how these approaches can support informed and responsible self-care.

Self-care can deliver value for people and health systems

"Self-care is making a vital, measurable contribution to healthcare systems. Global Self-Care Federation research shows that self-care generates USD 144 billion in annual health system savings globally, saving 2.20 billion physician hours and 13 billion individual travel and wait hours," said Rachmadi Joesoef, Chairman of APSMI, Representative of GP Farmasi and CEO of PT Konimex.

"The opportunity now is to build on the momentum already underway across Asia-Pacific to scale responsible self-care and its contribution to better health outcomes. No single stakeholder can do this alone. Partnership will be critical to sustaining progress," he added.

Regulators strengthen regional collaboration through one-of-a-kind Self-CARER platform

The Bali discussions provided an opportunity for Regulators to also exchange experiences, challenges and best practices, while recognising the diversity of regulatory and healthcare environments across Asia-Pacific.

Mr. Takayuki Okubo, Co-Chair of Self-CARER & Director (Office of International Regulatory Affairs, Pharmaceutical Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare, Japan) said: "Our Self-CARER platform which is a strategic coalition uniting Regulatory Authorities, Healthcare Experts, and the Asia-Pacific Self-Medication Industry (APSMI) is dedicated towards translating our continued dialogue into meaningful progress for people across the region. These three days demonstrated the value of sustained regional collaboration through exchanging regulatory experiences, challenges and best practices. "  

Regional Action on Bangkok Joint Initiative gains pace

In 2026 alone, 81 self-care initiatives were reported across 10 markets by 17 organisations, spanning health literacy and education, technology and digital solutions, public-private collaboration, self-care governance, and the economic and social value of self-care. Together with activity reported in 2025, this brings the number of reported initiatives aligned with the priorities of the 2024 Bangkok Joint Initiative to more than 140.

According to Manjulaa Narasimhan, WHO Scientist & Lead, Self Care, "Evidence-based self-care options as recommended in the WHO global normative guidelines are increasingly complementing facility-based care and advancing the health and well-being of people across their life-course in all economic settings. These self-care options are also responding to core public health challenges in the Asia-Pacific region by contributing to increasing health literacy, access, equity, and health system capacity"

APSMI also launched its first Asia regional survey with IPSOS on digital e-labelling and regulatory streamlining of OTC self-care products. The findings are being discussed within Self-CARER to inform the next phase of work, alongside continued best-practice sharing and collaboration on regulatory streamlining and digital health.

Indonesia: advancing the Self-care Conversation

As host country, Indonesia provided an important setting for the regional dialogue on how self-care can support better health outcomes through regulatory innovation, informed consumer participation and stronger collaboration.

Prof. dr. Taruna Ikrar, M.D., M.Biomed., Ph.D, Head of Indonesian Food and Drug Authority, Republic of Indonesia said, "At BPOM, we remain committed to supporting responsible self-care through science-based regulation, digital innovation, effective oversight, and public education, while maintaining our fundamental responsibility to protect public health."

Rizka Andalusia, Director General of Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices, Ministry of Health, Indonesia stated, "Indonesia is committed to making self-care a key pillar of health and well-being through better access, reliable information, and professional guidance. This requires strong collaboration across government, industry, healthcare professionals, and communities to ensure safe and equitable self-care for all."

"What is powerful about the progress in Asia-Pacific is the collaboration behind it, with regulators, industry, associations, health experts coming together to share learnings and advance common priorities with one goal at the centre: empowering individuals across Asia-Pacific to make informed choices and play a more active role in their health," said Greg Perry, Director-General, Global Self-Care Federation.

About Asia-Pacific Self-Medication Industry (APSMI)

The Asia-Pacific Self-Medication Industry (APSMI) is the regional association representing the self-medication industry across the Asia-Pacific region. APSMI works closely with regulators, healthcare professionals, academia, industry associations, and other stakeholders to advance evidence-based policies, strengthen health literacy, and expand access to safe and responsible self-medication practices. Through cross-sector collaboration, APSMI is committed to supporting stronger healthcare systems, empowering individuals to take greater responsibility for their health, and contributing to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Asia-Pacific.