Southeast Asia Regional Collaborative for Health
The Southeast Asia Collaborative for Health (SEARCH) is a regional learning network comprising collaborators from ASEAN, Timor-Leste, India and China as well as international partners working on health systems strengthening. SEARCH’s overarching objective is to improve knowledge, understanding and take-up of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in ASEAN by raising leadership, research, policy and practice capacity. We currently focus on strategic health purchasing and primary healthcare as tools to achieve UHC in the region.
Our activities include evidence synthesis, capacity-building, training workshops and policy engagement.
Our chosen tools to raise capacity for UHC are strategic purchasing and primary healthcare.
Primary Healthcare
Primary healthcare is the basis of UHC globally. It aims to achieve the highest possible level of health for a population through disease prevention, integrated healthcare services, community empowerment and other strategies that bring health and wellbeing closer to communities.
Strategic Purchasing
Strategic health purchasing is a core function of health financing. It involves the evidence-based allocation of health funds to provide services for a population. When done strategically, health purchasing can free up fiscal space, increase cost-effectiveness and enhance the quality and accessibility of health services.
We work with national governments, health ministries, purchasers, public health professionals and the private sector.
