Health Summit Asia (HSA) 2027 will return to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 5 to 7 May next year, bringing together healthcare stakeholders from across Asia to discuss market access, innovation and industry growth.

Held under the theme “One Ecosystem. One Pulse. Shaping the Future of Health Economy,” the event is expected to attract 120 exhibitors from 10 countries, as well as exhibitors and delegates from more than 60 countries.

“People aged 60 and above in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to double from 670 million in 2022 to 1.3 billion by 2050”

The summit comes as Asia’s healthcare market is projected to reach US$5 trillion (RM20 trillion) by 2030. Asia already accounts for 60 per cent of the world’s population aged 65 and above.

According to UNESCAP, the number of people aged 60 and above in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to double from 670 million in 2022 to 1.3 billion by 2050. Malaysia, meanwhile, is projected by the World Bank to become an aged society by 2044, when 14 per cent of its population is expected to be aged 65 and above. It is expected to become a super-aged society by 2056, when the proportion is projected to reach 20 per cent or more.

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib, Deputy Minister of Health, Malaysia, said HSA 2027 supported Malaysia’s healthcare priorities and public-private health strategies.

“Progress can no longer happen in silos. It requires concerted and collaborative effort across government, healthcare providers, industry, academia, investors, innovators and the wider health economy,” she said during the event’s soft launch.

A key feature of HSA 2027 will be the introduction of Market Access Clinics, a practical programme designed to help international and regional healthcare companies develop plans to enter the Malaysian and wider Asian markets.

The programme will be held on 7 May through small-group sessions covering regulatory requirements, evidence expectations and compliance obligations. Participants will also examine how to demonstrate clinical relevance, workflow fit, economic feasibility and implementation readiness to hospitals and healthcare providers.

The sessions will also address how to identify, evaluate and structure commercial agreements with suitable distribution partners.

Richard Teo, executive chairman of Qube Integrated Malaysia, said the programme would help turn industry discussions into commercial opportunities.

“HSA 2027 will be the platform to do this, reading the pulse of the industry at a regional level, congregating changemakers and converting high-level conversations directly into commercial action,” he said.

Organised by Qube Integrated Malaysia with the support of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, HSA 2027 will feature a two-day conference, a trade exhibition, Market Access Clinics, Industry Spotlight sessions and business-to-business meetings.

Exhibitors will represent sectors including digital health and technology, medical devices and consumables, pharmaceutical innovation, nutrition and nutraceuticals, as well as health policy and regulation.

The first conference day will focus on “Asia’s Health Economy — Markets, Policy, Capital and Technology”, with sessions including “The Silver Economy: Where Demand and Capital Are Moving” and “Funding the Health Economy: What Capital Will Back in 2027.”

The second day, themed “From Market Access to Better Health — Commercialisation, Medicine and Wellness,” will examine topics including “From Approval to Adoption: Winning Buyers and Distribution Channels Across ASEAN” and “The Next Operating Theatre: Robotics, Image-Guided Surgery and Minimally Invasive Care.”

Confirmed speakers include representatives from private hospitals, healthcare groups, technology companies, universities and medical device organisations across Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Japan.

Kevin Teo, deputy managing director of Qube Integrated Malaysia and show director of HSA 2027, said the event would focus on business connections and market intelligence.

“We have taken great care to structure the upcoming event to offer more than brand visibility, focusing on qualified B2B leads, targeted matchmaking and direct route-to-market decisions,” he said.

The Malaysian Pharmacists Society and the Malaysian Medical Association will serve as supporting partners, while the National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO), Malaysia, and VNU Asia Pacific will be strategic partners.