Mapping Women’s health strategies in ASEAN
When the mountain won’t move, healthcare must, Gina C. Meneses
From Maternal Health to Women’s Health
Across Southeast Asia, women are living longer, spending more years in the workforce, and navigating changing social, economic, and digital environments. While ASEAN countries have made significant progress on improving maternal and reproductive health, policy frameworks have yet to capture the full breadth of health risks facing women today across their lives.
This report from Global 50/50 and Monash University Malaysia reviews recent national health strategies across all 11 ASEAN Member States and finds that women’s health is consistently present in policy, but most often framed around maternal and reproductive programmes. The report argues that the next phase of policy development should build on these strong foundations and extend toward a more comprehensive life-course approach to women’s health as a foundation for inclusive and resilient societies.
Why this matters
Women’s health is increasingly central to economic participation, caregiving capacity, and healthy ageing, with direct implications for household resilience, labour market inclusion, and the long-term sustainability of health systems. As populations age, workforces evolve, and disease patterns shift, investing in women’s health beyond maternal care is increasingly important for inclusive and resilient societies.
Key findings
Women’s health remains primarily framed through maternal and reproductive health
Across most national health strategies in ASEAN, women’s health concerns are present and valued, but often limited in scope with little mention of issues beyond maternal and reproductive health.
Life-course approaches are emerging but not yet complete
Some countries reference women’s health across adolescence, adulthood, and older age, but for most, life-course framing remains partial. Only one country case reviewed included an explicit component on healthy ageing or older women’s health.
Governance arrangements and financing remain limited
Institutional responsibility for women’s health is most often located within gender mainstreaming mechanisms or maternal health programmes. The review did not identify dedicated women’s health units, and explicit financing beyond maternal programmes is limited.
Targets and indicators exist, but are not yet comprehensive
Ten countries include women-specific targets and indicators, reflecting a strong monitoring foundation. However, these remain weighted toward maternal and reproductive outcomes, with limited attention to noncommunicable diseases, mental health, and healthy ageing.
A strong foundation is in place for the next phase of development
The report finds that ASEAN’s progress in maternal and reproductive health provides a substantial platform for growth. The opportunity now is to extend that foundation toward a more integrated, equitable, and responsive model of women’s health across the full life course.
What the report covers
Using a structured analytical framework spanning policy scope, governance architecture, delivery and policy instruments, and data, monitoring and accountability, the report assesses how women’s health is reflected in national health strategies across all 11 ASEAN member states. It also reviews selected secondary policy documents on sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, noncommunicable diseases, ageing, mental health, and primary health care.
Implications and opportunities
The report identifies four broad opportunities for future policy development:
- Redefine women’s health as a life-course issue
National strategies can retain the gains made in maternal and reproductive health while broadening their scope to include noncommunicable diseases, mental health, menopause, older age, and continuity of care. - Strengthen governance and accountability
Clearer coordination mechanisms, named institutional leads, and more explicit financing commitments could help translate policy intent into implementation. - Use indicator systems more strategically
Measurement systems already exist in many countries. The next step is to rebalance and expand them so they better reflect the changing burden of disease and the determinants of women’s health across the life course. - Move from isolated services to continuity of care
More connected approaches to prevention, screening, chronic disease management, mental health support, sexual and reproductive health services, and healthy ageing can strengthen women’s health across their lifetimes.
Time, Le Minh Quat
A key insight emerging from this analysis is that while women’s health continues to be strongly supported through maternal and reproductive health programmes, there is growing scope to further strengthen policy frameworks that address women’s health needs across the life course.
This analysis provides a foundation for deeper country-level work and policy dialogue to support implementation, including through targeted and practical investments in priority areas. It reflects a shared commitment to evidence that supports governments and partners across the region. We hope it contributes to regional dialogue, research and to continued progress for the health and wellbeing of women and girls across ASEAN, and look forward to supporting further work of this kind across the region.
Taking action
This analysis highlights practical opportunities to strengthen national approaches to women’s health. It also points to a clear role for partners and funders in helping countries turn existing policy commitments into more comprehensive, life-course approaches.