Advocacy leaders from Southeast Asia convened for the inaugural APPISx SEA meeting in Malaysia, focusing on improving care for women with breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in ASEAN.
Hosted by the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and APPIS, the two-day event united patient leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to share best practices and collaborate on equitable breast cancer treatment and care in the region.
The theme, “Best Practices in Patient Navigation and Innovative Funding Solutions for Equitable Access to Breast Cancer Care in Southeast Asia,” focused on important topics like patient support, funding, awareness, and treatment access, highlighted by a Memorandum of Understanding to show the participants’ unity and shared goals.
Collaborating for Change
Participants took part in workshops, presentations of case studies, and discussions aimed at helping leaders improve breast cancer care in their countries.
The Guest of Honor, Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Sri Suriani binti Dato’ Ahmad from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, was present to start the Ministry’s National Pink October celebrations and to see the signing of the MOU: “Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge in Malaysia, with over 5,000 new cases and more than 1,600 lives lost each year. This issue is not unique to us—it echoes across Southeast Asia, where access to timely diagnosis, treatment, and support remains uneven.
The APPISx SEA platform, powered by Novartis and championed by NCSM, unites patient leaders and advocates across the region. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we are enhancing women’s access to care and earlier screenings for a brighter future in the fight against breast cancer.
Kol.Bersekutu (PA) Assoc Prof Dr. Murallitharan Munisamy, Managing Director of NCSM, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration: “Hearing from patients and advocacy champions across Southeast Asia helps us to better understand the unique challenges faced by each country. By working together through events like APPISx SEA, we can improve the standard of breast cancer care and provide meaningful and holistic support to patients in need.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, with around 300,000 new cases and nearly 140,000 deaths in 2020. The mortality rate is highest in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In Malaysia, 1,681 women died from breast cancer in 2024, highlighting the need for improved care.
Judith Love, President of Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa at Novartis, underscored the call for action:
“Too many families in Southeast Asia know the pain of losing a mother, a daughter and friends to breast cancer – yet, significant gaps in awareness, access, and support remain. As one of the largest threats to women’s health, we must do more to ensure patients receive the care they need, and are enabled to live well and longer.
At Novartis, we believe that reimagining progress in healthcare delivery begins with collaboration. Through platforms like APPIS, we can empower patient advocacy leaders with the knowledge, access, networks and tools needed to drive change in their communities.”
Looking Ahead
Findings and insights from APPISx SEA 2025 will guide new efforts to address key challenges, including:
- Improving access to screening and treatment.
- Bridging funding gaps to support patients in need.
- Enhancing advocacy programs to reach communities effectively.Â
The outcomes will be documented in a White Paper to address inequities in breast cancer care and guide future collaborations.