APEC Project Database

Project Title

DigEH: Digital Outreach for Equitable Healthcare Access for Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities in APEC Member Economies

Project Year

2025

Project Number

HWG_204_2025A

Project Session

Session 2

Project Type

Standard

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Project No.

HWG_204_2025A

Project Title

DigEH: Digital Outreach for Equitable Healthcare Access for Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities in APEC Member Economies

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Fund Account

APEC Support Fund

Sub-fund

ASF: Digital Innovation

Project Year

2025

Project Session

Session 2

APEC Funding

93,635

Co-funding Amount

30,000

Total Project Value

123,635

Sponsoring Forum

Health Working Group (HWG)

Topics

Health; Disability; Digital Technology and Innovation

Committee

SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE)

Other Fora Involved

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

Proposing Economy(ies)

Japan

Co-Sponsoring Economies

Chile; Chinese Taipei; Thailand

Expected Start Date

01/03/2026

Expected Completion Date

30/06/2027

Project Proponent Name 1

Kenta Kawaguchi

Job Title 1

Director, Office of Global Health Cooperation

Organization 1

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan

Telephone 1

Not Applicable

Email 1

apec_mhlw-Japan@mhlw.go.jp

Project Proponent Name 2

Not Applicable

Job Title 2

Not Applicable

Organization 2

Not Applicable

Telephone 2

Not Applicable

Email 2

Not Applicable

Declaration

Kenta Kawaguchi

Project Summary

The project aims to improve access to healthcare for older persons and persons with disabilities in APEC Member Economies by leveraging digital innovations to strengthen outreach services and address persistent access dilemma. Rationale: These populations often require long-term and frequent access to specialized care, yet such services are typically concentrated in urban centers and economy-level facilities - locations that are difficult to reach due to mobility and other functional difficulties, social stigma, and economic hardship. Strategy: Adopting a person-centered and holistic approach, this project explores digital renovations to make outreach services more universal and responsive to the needs of vulnerable groups. Activities include a systematic review and action research to assess current situation, identify barriers and opportunities, and document best practices. Seminars will be held to gather input and share findings with stakeholders across APEC Member Economies, while publications will disseminate insights and policy implications to influence regional health strategies.

Relevance

Region

At the midpoint of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), access to healthcare for older persons, particularly women, remains a major global challenge, especially in Asia and APEC economies facing rapid population ageing. Older adults often require long-term, specialized care, yet such services are costly and concentrated in urban centers—far from where most live. Barriers like mobility and other functional difficulties, ageism, and poverty further limit their access. Persons with disabilities face similar challenges due to persistent mismatches between healthcare demand and supply.

Despite its salience being recognized universally, this issue remains inadequately addressed. Without action, the healthcare gap may worsen health inequities and deepen vulnerabilities of older persons and persons with disabilities. While digital innovations offer potential solutions, their application to older persons and those with disabilities is still emerging. There is an urgent need for universal, person-centered approaches that leverage technology to improve outreach and ensure equitable healthcare access for all, regardless of barriers.

Eligibility and Fund Priorities

The following components show how this project meets the ASF Digital Innovation Sub-fund:

1. Capacity Building: As in “3. Capacity Building”, the project provides APEC Member Economies with tools, knowledge, and frameworks to implement digital outreach in healthcare.

2. Strategic Alignment: Development of Digital Infrastructure: Supports equitable access through investment in community-level ICT systems. Development of Holistic Government Policy Frameworks: Promotes evidence-based, person-centered policymaking.

3. Promoting Innovation and Adoption of Enabling Technologies and Services: Pilots digital health solutions to enhance outreach and public health services.

Furthermore, the project addresses gender dynamics by supporting more accessible care solutions that ease informal caregiving burdens, often shouldered by women. Its design is rooted in systematic evidence collection and shaped through engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Fully aligned with APEC priorities, it spans 18 months, surpassing the required timeline.

Capacity Building

This project significantly contributes to capacity building for APEC Member Economies by equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative frameworks essential for advancing digital healthcare outreach. Through a combination of systematic review and action research, the project generates robust, evidence-based insights that inform the development of inclusive digital health strategies and a practical action framework tailored to diverse regional contexts.

A key component of the initiative is its emphasis on cross-border learning and institutional development. Seminars, workshops, and knowledge-sharing events serve as platforms for exchanging experiences, fostering innovation, and building networks among policymakers, health practitioners, community workers, and researchers.

These engagements not only enhance technical competencies but also promote a shared understanding of best policies and best practices in digital health implementation.

Furthermore, the project facilitates a workshop that address structural barriers to equitable healthcare access. By disseminating successful models and lessons learned, it empowers health systems and decision-makers to design and implement person- centered, inclusive digital health solutions. Ultimately, the project contributes to long- term regional cooperation and sustained innovation in healthcare delivery, laying a strong foundation for resilient, adaptive, and equitable health systems across the APEC Region.

Objectives

This project aims to improve healthcare access for older persons and persons with disabilities, particularly women, in APEC Member Economies (AME) by leveraging digital innovations in outreach service delivery and addressing persistent access dilemma. Specifically:

1. Review the current access dilemma in AME among older persons and persons with disabilities, and document global best practices in digital health outreach services.

2. Engage AME stakeholders to co-develop person-centered, holistic, and equitable strategies and an action framework to improve universal and responsiveness of digital health outreach.

3. Disseminate findings and policy recommendations through publications and workshops to inform and influence regional policy.

Alignment

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Output

1) One (1) Review and Situation Assessment Report on the Landscape of Digital Outreach for Equitable Healthcare Access for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities, particulary Women, in APEC Economies, One (1) Policy Brief, One (1) Factsheet and One (1) Infographic

The review and situation assessment aims to:

1) Provide a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape of digital outreach services for healthcare access, particularly for older women and men, as well as persons with disabilities, supported by concrete evidence;

2) Identifying specific barriers and facilitators, along with best practices and innovative solutions to enhance access to healthcare services through digital outreach, especially for older adults, persons with disabilities, and women;

3) Provide inputs for a workshop , high-level meetings, and the development of a strategic action framework.

The assessment will be conducted through an intensive desk review of literature and relevant documents across all Member Economies, complemented by online and in-person interviews during the project period. Additional interviews and consultations with APEC Member Economies, particularly those demonstrating good practices or facing significant challenges, will continue for another six months to gain deeper insights. The key output of these activities will be a comprehensive Situation Assessment Report tailored for APEC Member Economies, with a minimum length of 25-pages (excluding annexes). The structure of the Situation Assessment Report is 1) introduction, 2) methodology,

3) finings and 4) overall conclusion and implications.

One (1) Policy Brief, one (1) Factsheet and one (1) Infographic will be developed based on the findings from the Review and Situation Assessment Report.

2) One (1) Workshop at SOM1 2027

Workshop on Digital Outreach for Equitable Healthcare Access will be held as a side event during the APEC 2027 Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM). The Workshop will aim to present the final findings of the review and assessment and seek support for the endorsement of the Action Framework.

Tentative Agenda for the Workshop: 1) Registration and Pre-Event Survey; 2) Opening, 3) Presentation of Research Findings and Policy Implications: Situation Assessments and Case Studies, 4) Qs and Qs, 5) Presentation of Proposed Action Framework, 6) Validation and Agreement Building: Small-group Thematic Discussion (break-out group discussion on different components or issues under the proposed Action Framework), 7) Presentations on Key Outcomes from Group Discussions, 8) Open Discussion for Finalisation of the Action Framework, and 9) Closing and Post-Event Survey.

3) One (1) Action Framework

It is anticipated that all APEC Member Economies at the Workshop will agree on an Action Framework to improve equitable healthcare access for older adults and persons with disabilities, especially women, through strengthened digital outreach.

Outcome

1) Strengthened Evidence and Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge and potentially new evidence will be available through systematic review and assessment, their documentation and publication. Case studies from selected APEC Member Economies will offer additional insights, enriching the understanding of digital outreach for equitable healthcare access.

2) Informed Policy Development: The development and endorsement of the Action Framework will be guided by robust evidence from the review and assessment. Findings will inform a workshop, enabling evidence-based discussions among stakeholders. The development of the Action Framework will also be well-informed by the findings from the review and assessment.

3) Enhanced Regional Collaboration: Consultations with APEC Member Economies will foster cross-economy learning, particularly by connecting economies with best practices to those facing implementation challenges. Technical cooperation and capacity-building opportunities among APEC Member Economies will be further strengthened through collaborative project activities. The project will actively promote and document both bilateral and regional collaborations across APEC Member Economies.

4) Improved Digital Outreach Strategies: Tailored digital outreach models and solutions will be identified and widely disseminated. The project will encourage the Inclusive design and implementation of digital health services, aiming to enhance their accessibility and availability. Through the Action Framework, the APEC Member Economies are expected to benefit from improved, comprehensive digital outreach strategies, potentially including new and innovative components.

5) Improved Awareness and Advocacy: Information and evidence shared through a workshop and publications will help increase the visibility of these issues among policymakers, practitioners, and civil society.

Beneficiaries

Direct Beneficiaries:

- Public Health Officials from Ministries of Health or Ministries of Social Affairs from APEC Member Economies will gain valuable insights, evidence-based recommendations, and innovative perspectives through participation in the situation assessment and knowledge-sharing activities. Member Economies will also have opportunities to request and receive technical support for the development and strengthening of relevant national policies and programs.

- Research Community, including those on population and development, geriatrics, gerontechnology and age-tech, will benefit from collaboration, access to diverse datasets, and opportunities to align their work with real-world needs and challenges. The project encourages contributions to policy-relevant knowledge and evidence- based policymaking, as well as practical applications. Special emphasis is placed on engaging junior researchers and graduate students as part of their practicum training, involving them in addressing practical issues.

Indirect Beneficiaries:

- Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities, are expected to benefit from improved access to healthcare services as a result of the project. While the project does not provide direct support to individuals, its impact will be realized through awareness raising and policy changes that promote equitable access to services.

- Healthcare Providers and Outreach Workers will benefit from newly developed strategies, the Action Framework, and documentation of best practices that support more inclusive and effective service delivery.

- Development Partners, Community-Based Organizations, and the General Public will benefit from access to knowledge platforms and publications that showcase digital outreach service models for equitable healthcare access.

Dissemination

- APEC Publication: Review and Situation Assessment Report on the Landscape of Digital Outreach for Equitable Healthcare Access for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities, particularly Women, in APEC Member Economies. Target audience: Policymakers, particularly from APEC Member Economies, researchers, community service providers, technology partners, older women and men, women and men with disabilities, and the general public.

- Policy Brief: At least one policy brief will be developed and distributed in hard copies at APEC meetings and online via the project webpage (to be developed primarily for knowledge sharing), APEC website (if feasible), MHLW’s website, and partner websites (if feasible). Target audience: Policymakers.

- Factsheet & Infographic: At least a factsheet and an infographic on the same topic will be developed and distributed in hard copies at APEC meetings and online via the project webpage, APEC website (if feasible), MHLW’s website, and partner websites (if feasible). Target audience: Policymakers, researchers, community service providers, technology partners, development partners, older women and men, women and men with disabilities, and the general public.

- APEC Action Framework: An APEC Action Framework on Improving Equitable Access to Healthcare for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities through Digital Outreach will be developed and disseminated in hard copies and, if possible, through the APEC website. Target audience: Policymakers.

- Commercialization: The project does not intend to commercialize or sell any outputs resulting from its activities.

Gender

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Work Plan

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Risks

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Linkages

- This project builds upon recommendations from previous works of APEC Health Working Group (HWG), including the workshop on “Best practices for healthy and active ageing initiatives” and the workshop on “Promotion and prevention to continuous, integrated and comprehensive care for a positive, active, and health ageing”.

- This project is aimed at improving access to health and social services for older adults across ASEAN Member States. This initiative is closely aligned with relevant ASEAN forums to ensure regional coordination and policy coherence. Accordingly, this new project could be strategically linked to ASEAN forums to reinforce its regional relevance and impact.

- Leveraging the existing network of MHLW, the project fosters multi-sectoral collaboration between APEC and MHLW’s relevant partners, including Asia and the Pacific , ERIA, OECD, UNFPA, WHO, and ACAI. These organizations will be mobilized to support project implementation and dissemination of its knowledge.

- Project deliverables will be disseminated via the websites of APEC, MHLW, and potentially other collaborating organizations. The project will also leverage existing links with various ASEAN Centres and the ASEAN Secretariat to ensure knowledge translation and engagement with economy level policy makers.

- The project builds on and leverages existing linkages such as the AHWIN initiative (an initiative of the Government of Japan that aims to promote regional cooperation that fosters sustainable and self-reliant healthcare systems in Asia) and its ongoing engagement with winners and finalists of the Healthy Aging Prize for Asian Innovation.

- The project will also leverage links of MHLW and its partners with various Asia Pacific based universities, research institutions, UN Agencies (WHO country and regional offices, UNFPA and UNESCAP country and regional offices), and think tanks, to amplify and disseminate knowledge (generated by the project) and to help translate it at economy level policy.

- The project is best undertaken by APEC for a few reasons: 1) The project aligns with APEC’s mandate to promote cross-sectoral collaboration and regional integration, particularly in areas that intersect health, economic development, and social policy;

2) APEC has demonstrated sustained commitment to healthy ageing over recent years, notable initiatives include the workshop on Promotion and Prevention for Integrated Care held in 2019, the development of the Healthy Asia Pacific Roadmap in 2020, which emphasized multisectoral collaboration for ageing population, the Workshop on Best Practices for Healthy and Active Ageing Initiative held in 2022; 3) APEC maintains robust collaboration with key stakeholders such as MHLW, as well as international organizations working on this issue; 4) Several APEC Member Economies have independently organized workshops, and initiatives focused on healthy ageing. This reflects a clear and growing interest across diverse economies to address the challenges and opportunities of ageing societies.

Sustainability

- This project builds upon an on-going long-term program of work supported by MHLW, aimed at improving access to health and social services for older adults. The outputs of this proposed project will complement and enhance this existing program. It will benefit from the goodwill and trust that have been gradually built over the years, an essential foundation for active engagement, adoption of the project’s findings, and ultimately, the sustainability of its outputs.

- The project methodology involves active consultations and co-design to build consensus around a common APEC-wide framework for action on Digital Outreach for Equitable Healthcare Access for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities. This inclusive consensus-driven approach, actively involving APEC Member Economies, not only increases the likelihood of uptake of the framework but also encourage individual economies to develop and implement their own Action Plans. These activities will engage both Member Economies and subject-matter experts, fostering a collaborative network for future consultation and cooperation.

- The project’s knowledge products, including the Action Framework, APEC Publication, policy brief, factsheet, and infographic, will be hosted on MHLW and partner websites beyond the project’s duration. These resources will remain accessible to Member Economies and the public, serving as valuable references. It is anticipated that the lessons learned and policy recommendations will be adopted and replicated beyond the project timeline.

- The Action Framework is expected to serve as a general guide, encouraging Member Economies to develop their own Action Plans and Programs following the conclusion of the project.

Direct Labour

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Are there any supporting document attached?

Yes

Project No.
Project Title
Project Status
Fund Account
Sub-fund
Project Year
Project Session
APEC Funding
Co-funding Amount
Total Project Value
Sponsoring Forum
Topics
Committee
Other Fora Involved
Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved
Proposing Economy(ies)
Co-Sponsoring Economies
Expected Start Date
Expected Completion Date
Project Proponent Name 1
Job Title 1
Organization 1
Telephone 1
Email 1
Project Proponent Name 2
Job Title 2
Organization 2
Telephone 2
Email 2
Declaration
Project Summary
Relevance
Objectives
Alignment
Beneficiaries and Outputs
Dissemination
Gender
Work Plan
Risks
Monitoring and Evaluation
Linkages
Sustainability
Direct Labour
Are there any supporting document attached?
hdFldAdmin
Project Number
Previous Fora
Secretariat Comments
Reprogramming Notes
Consolidated QAF
Endorsement By Fora
PD Sign Off
Batch
Forum Priority
Committee Ranking Category
Committee Priority
PDM Priority
Priority Within Funding Category
Monitoring Report Received
Completion Report Received
PMU Field 1
PMU Field 2
PMU Field 3
On Behalf Of
Proposal Status
Originating Sub-Forum
Approval Status
Attachments

Content Type: Standard Proposal