The "2026 Asia-Pacific Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Workshop" is being held on August 11–12 at the College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, under the theme “Digital Innovation for Enhancing Physical Activity and Nutrition Management.” The workshop brings together experts, scholars, and public health practitioners from Singapore, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan to engage in in-depth exchanges on how digital technologies promote physical activity, nutrition management, and healthy behavior change. The event deepens regional collaboration in health promotion and the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) across the Asia-Pacific region.
In her keynote address, Dr. Ching-Fen Shen, Director General of the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), disclosed that the HPA will continue to advance the application of digital technologies in health promotion services, strengthen international cooperation, and work with Asia-Pacific partners to build healthier, more equitable, and more resilient living environments.

Leveraging Technology for Healthier Lifestyles 
In her opening remarks and keynote address, Dr. Ching-Fen Shen, Director General of the HPA, noted that NCDs have become a significant global health challenge and pose a severe threat to public health. She emphasized that the HPA works actively to address unhealthy dietary intake and increase physical activity levels among the public. In accordance with the Nutrition and Healthy Eating Promotion Act, the HPA formulates policies and subsidizes local governments to establish Community Nutrition Promotion Centers, thereby providing diverse nutritional services in local communities. The HPA also continues to promote the application of digital technologies in health promotion services to help people adopt healthier lifestyles.

Regional Experts Share Digital Innovations for Physical Activity and Nutrition Management 
The workshop features leading international experts and public health professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region who share practical experiences in applying digital innovations to promote physical activity and nutrition management. 
Distinguished speakers include Ms. Audrey Tong, Director of the Integrated Solutions & Program Planning Office, Health Promotion Board, Singapore; Dr. Takehiro Sugiyama, Director of the Department of Medical DX at the Bureau of System Infrastructure Development, Japan Institute for Health Security, Japan; Dr. Junbok Lee, Research Professor at the Yonsei Institute for Digital Health, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea; Dr. Yu-Hung Chang, Project Assistant Investigator at the Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes (NHRI), Taiwan; and Dr. Jung-Su Chang at the Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
 The sessions also featured a roundtable discussion co-chaired by Dr. Hung-Yi Chiou, President of APACPH, and Dr. Ya-Wen Chiu, Vice President of APACPH. 
Throughout the workshop, discussions focus on the practical applications of these digital health strategies. Ms. Audrey Tong introduced Singapore’s citizen-centered approach to digital health promotion, highlighting the Healthy 365 mobile application and partnerships with the food industry to advance sodium reduction initiatives. Dr. Takehiro Sugiyama presented research on the use of self-monitoring tools and personal health records to support health behavior change. Dr. Junbok Lee shared the Republic of Korea’s experience in applying artificial intelligence (AI), mobile health technologies, wearable devices, and incentive mechanisms to promote healthier lifestyles. 
Representing Taiwan’s practical advancements, Dr. Yu-Hung Chang of the NHRI will introduce a logic model–based evaluability assessment scale developed to support the planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of public health programs in Taiwan. Additionally, Dr. Jung-Su Chang of Taipei Medical University will discuss AI-assisted nutrition care and AI governance, emphasizing the importance of human verification, clear workflows, institutional oversight, and professional training to ensure the safe, trustworthy, and responsible application of AI.
The second day of the workshop will focus on “Advancing Digital Health for Physical Activity and Nutrition: Policy Translation and Governance.” Through a roundtable discussion, international speakers will explore how to integrate digital health into public health policies, while offering actionable insights from various perspectives to support physical activity and nutrition management.
The workshop facilitates the exchange of regional experiences in digital health, physical activity, nutrition management, program evaluation, and AI governance, while also highlighting Taiwan’s ongoing efforts in health promotion and NCD prevention. 
The workshop is jointly organized by the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health Collaborating Centres for Health Promotion (APACPH CCHP), and the Taiwan Association for Global Health Initiative (TAGHI), with the Health Policy Research Center of the Institute of Population Health Sciences at the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) serving as a co-organizer.