MANILA - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda announced on Tuesday the launch of the Universal Health Coverage Practitioners and Experts Knowledge Exchange and Resources (UHC PEERS), a regional peer-to-peer learning network designed to accelerate universal health coverage across the Asia-Pacific region.

The announcement was made during ADB's INclusive, Sustainable, Prosperous, and REsilient (INSPIRE) Health Systems in Asia and the Pacific Health Forum, bringing together representatives of more than 25 developing member countries, including health ministers from nine countries.

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According to the ADB, more than one billion people across Asia and the Pacific still lack access to basic health services, with millions pushed into poverty due to healthcare costs.

UHC PEERS will complement the UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo, enabling countries to learn from health financing reforms, service delivery innovations, and coverage expansion.

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The network will facilitate exchanges on reaching remote populations, integrating private sector providers, and developing sustainable financing.