The Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health (APCPH) is the flagship biennial conference organised by the College of Public Health Medicine (CPHM), Academy of Medicine of Malaysia. Since its inception, the conference has served as a key platform to advance public health practice, research, and policy across the Asia-Pacific region.
APCPH brings together public health practitioners, academics, policymakers, and researchers to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and address emerging health challenges affecting populations in the region. Over the years, the conference has grown in scale and significance, reflecting the growing need for regional cooperation and multidisciplinary approaches to address complex public health issues.
APCPH Conferences
1st APCPH (2004)
Theme: “New Initiatives in Public Health”
The inaugural conference marked the establishment of APCPH as a regional platform for dialogue and collaboration in public health.
2nd APCPH (2007)
Theme: “Emerging Threats in Public Health”
Venue: Sheraton Subang Hotel & Towers, Subang, Malaysia
The conference focused on emerging health risks and the need for stronger preparedness and response systems.
3rd APCPH (2011)
Theme: “Translating Evidence into Public Health Action”
Venue: Grand Dorsett, Subang, Malaysia (14–15 November 2011)
This meeting emphasised the importance of translating research evidence into effective public health interventions and policy.
4th APCPH (2015)
Theme: “Fostering Innovation in Tackling the Double Burden of Disease”
Venue: Kuantan, Malaysia (7–9 September 2015)
The conference highlighted innovative strategies to address both communicable and non-communicable diseases. The programme included three plenary sessions, 34 symposia, 66 oral presentations, and 60 poster presentations. Abstracts were published in a supplementary issue of the Medical Journal of Malaysia.
5th APCPH (2017)
Theme: “Realising the Sustainable Development Goals Aspirations on Health”
Venue: Riverside Majestic Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak (10–14 September 2017)
The conference examined the role of public health in advancing the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening health systems.
6th APCPH (2019)
Theme: “Urbanisation Challenges in Health”
Venue: Equatorial Hotel, Penang (22–25 July 2019)
Urbanisation and its associated health risks were central to this conference. The programme included six pre-conference workshops, three plenaries, 12 symposium sessions, 76 oral presentations, and 205 poster presentations, with over 1,000 delegates in attendance. The keynote address was delivered by the Director-General of Health Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
7th APCPH (2022)
Theme: “Public Health in a Changing World”
Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton i-City, Shah Alam, Selangor (2–4 August 2022)
This conference explored the evolving landscape of public health in a rapidly changing world, including the implications of pandemics, technological transformation, and the need for resilient health systems.
8th APCPH (2024)
Theme: “Revitalising Public Health for a Resilient Future”
Venue: Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
The conference focused on strengthening public health systems, workforce capacity, and regional collaboration to address emerging health threats and improve community resilience.
9th APCPH (2026)
The 9th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health will be held from 6–8 July 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, under the theme:
“Closing the Public Health Gap through Technology, Partnership & People.”
The conference will focus on addressing persistent public health inequities through collaborative, technology-enabled, and community-driven approaches. The scientific programme will be organised around four key thematic tracks:
- Technology
- Equity
- People
- Climate & Environment
The conference will feature keynote addresses, plenary sessions, interactive forums, symposia, SPARK (Strategic Public Health Action, Research & Knowledge) sessions, and free paper presentations. These activities aim to stimulate dialogue, promote collaboration, and support innovation in public health across the Asia-Pacific region.
Looking forward, APCPH continues to strengthen its role as a regional platform for advancing public health knowledge, collaboration, and capacity building, supporting collective efforts to improve population health across the Asia-Pacific region.