{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,25]],"date-time":"2026-07-25T06:32:15Z","timestamp":1784961135245,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,26]],"date-time":"2025-09-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1758844800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":25,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Glob Health"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,7]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a state-based membership organisation that facilitates cooperation in Southeast Asia. Over the past two decades, ASEAN has strengthened its cooperation efforts in health, particularly in managing infectious diseases. This scoping review explores the role and response of ASEAN in the COVID-19 pandemic, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. We searched five databases using terminology related to \u2018ASEAN\u2019, \u2018COVID-19\u2019 and \u2018health emergencies\u2019, and extracted data on the role of ASEAN, its response efforts, critiques of either its role or response efforts, and any recommendations. We conducted a thematic synthesis of the evidence. From 17 studies, we characterised a normative, functional and diplomatic role that ASEAN played in managing the pandemic, and identified a total of 46 discrete mechanisms that ASEAN leveraged during. We synthesised both positive and negative critique of ASEAN\u2019s role and response efforts, and identified six themes of recommendations for ASEAN moving forward. Our review reveals the need for further research to understand where Member States' interests in managing health emergencies converge; and to define and measure the effectiveness of regional organisations to better establish their role and responsibilities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2024-018342","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,26]],"date-time":"2025-09-26T08:45:11Z","timestamp":1758876311000},"page":"e018342","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["ASEAN and the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review on the role and response of a regional organisation in a global health emergency"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8845-9275","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Afifah","family":"Rahman-Shepherd","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Singapore, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jeffery","family":"Cutter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6127-2665","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Soawapak","family":"Hinjoy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zheng Jie Marc","family":"Ho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Communicable Diseases Agency, Singapore"},{"name":"Asia Centre for Health Security, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joyce Chee","family":"Huimin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Singapore, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Irvin","family":"Miranda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Manila, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohammad Arshil","family":"Moideen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, National Defence University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tikki","family":"Pang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ahmed","family":"Razavi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UK Health Security Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vincent","family":"Rollet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate Institute of European Studies, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, Taipei, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Li Yang","family":"Hsu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Singapore, Singapore"},{"name":"Asia Centre for Health Security, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(10)62004-1"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Koga K . Countering emerging infectious diseases and COVID19: the development of ASEAN\u2019s institutional arrangements and international cooperation. In: Public health in Asia during the COVID19 pandemic: global health governance, migrant labour, and international health crises. 2022: 45\u201361. Available: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5117\/9789463720977","DOI":"10.2307\/j.ctv2b07tn8.5"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12992-024-01023-1","article-title":"Health policy competencies in regional organizations: a retrospective analysis for 76 regional organizations from 1945 to 2015","volume":"20","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Global Health"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(22)00583-9"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.3167\/reco.2019.090107","article-title":"Multi-level health governance and health diplomacy","volume":"9","author":"Amaya","year":"2019","journal-title":"Reg Cohes"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.6","unstructured":"Fernando FM , Rosa JFE , Quiano-Castro MK . COVID-19: a collective response in ASEAN. 2020."},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12992-021-00659-7","article-title":"Regional cooperation is essential to combatting health emergencies in the Global South","volume":"17","author":"Amaya","year":"2021","journal-title":"Global Health"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2023-014872","article-title":"The role of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention during response to COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: lessons learnt for future pandemics preparedness, prevention, and response","volume":"9","author":"Fallah","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1215\/03616878-9417456"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"508","DOI":"10.1111\/1758-5899.12835","article-title":"Regional Integration, Health Policy and Global Health","volume":"11","author":"Nikogosian","year":"2020","journal-title":"Global Policy"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1057\/s41295-020-00226-1","article-title":"Trajectories of regional cooperation: a comparative analysis","volume":"19","author":"Panke","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comp Eur Polit"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1364557032000119616"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/M18-0850"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/19439342.2012.710641"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1007\/s10308-021-00604-8","article-title":"ASEAN and the EU amidst COVID-19: overcoming the self-fulfilling prophecy of realism","volume":"19","author":"Kliem","year":"2021","journal-title":"Asia Eur J"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1007\/s12140-021-09366-x","article-title":"ASEAN\u2019s Diplomatic Tasks During the Pandemic","volume":"39","author":"Katsumata","year":"2022","journal-title":"East Asia (Piscataway)"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.1007\/s10308-022-00652-8","article-title":"Building resilient supply chains in uncertain times: a comparative study of EU and ASEAN approaches to supply chain resilience","volume":"20","author":"Pennisi di Floristella","year":"2022","journal-title":"Asia Eur J"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1080\/03932729.2021.1893058","article-title":"Covid-19 and ASEAN: Strengthening State-centrism, Eroding Inclusiveness, Testing Cohesion","volume":"56","author":"R\u00fcland","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int Spect (Rome)"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.15294\/lesrev.v4i1.38195","article-title":"Handling Covid-19 Related to Regional Security According to ASEAN Political-Security Community","volume":"4","author":"Calvin","year":"2020","journal-title":"LeSRev"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1525\/curh.2020.119.818.222","article-title":"ASEAN\u2019s Multilateral Path Through the Pandemic","volume":"119","author":"Caballero-Anthony","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr Hist"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100129","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pdisas.2020.100129","article-title":"COVID-19 and ASEAN responses: Comparative policy analysis","volume":"8","author":"Djalante","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prog Disaster Sci"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.22","unstructured":"Papageorgiou M , Silva Nogueira Melo D . Regional responses to COVID-19: a comparative analysis of EU and ASEAN policies to counter the pandemic. Perspectives on Federalism; 2020."},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"459","DOI":"10.19184\/ejlh.v9i3.30546","article-title":"ASEAN Integration in the Context of Disaster Management","volume":"9","author":"Arundhati","year":"2022","journal-title":"EJLH"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.3167\/reco.2022.120103","article-title":"ASEAN\u2019s \u201cactorness\u201d and \u201ceffectiveness\u201d regarding the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"12","author":"Rollet","year":"2022","journal-title":"Reg Cohes"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1080\/17516234.2022.2098769","article-title":"Humanitarian action in the Asia-Pacific during COVID-19: new challenges, modalities, and cooperation","volume":"17","author":"Cook","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Asian Public Policy"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.20956\/halrev.v7i2.2875","article-title":"Equal Access to the Vaccination of Covid-19 in Southeast Asia: Can ASEAN be a Catalyst?","volume":"7","author":"Tarigan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hasanuddin Law Rev"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.27","first-page":"57","article-title":"Regionalism on the Run: ASEAN, EU, AU and MERCOSUR responses mid the Covid-19 Crisis","volume":"14","author":"de Melo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Partecipazione e Conflitto"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"604","DOI":"10.1080\/09512748.2023.2205164","article-title":"Sovereignty scripts and regional governance: ASEAN\u2019s response to the Covid-19 pandemic","volume":"37","author":"Spandler","year":"2024","journal-title":"The Pacific Review"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1111\/asej.12198","article-title":"Pandemic (COVID-19) Policy, Regional Cooperation and the Emerging Global Production Network","volume":"34","author":"Kimura","year":"2020","journal-title":"Asian Economic Journal"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/aepr.12362"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1080\/13678868.2022.2071096","article-title":"Crisis leadership during COVID-19: the response of ASEAN and EU regional leaders","volume":"25","author":"Nguyen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Human Resource Development International"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.17576\/sinergi.0401.2024.02","article-title":"Indonesian Initiatives on Building Regional Health Regime in Southeast Asia after COVID-19","volume":"4","author":"Madu","year":"2024","journal-title":"SINERGI"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.136338.1","article-title":"ASEAN as network governance: An alternative lens to evaluate policymaking and performance","volume":"12","author":"Sundram","year":"2023","journal-title":"F1000Res"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.17576\/sinergi.0401.2024.09","article-title":"ASEAN\u2019s Function in Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic","volume":"4","author":"Ilkodar","year":"2024","journal-title":"SINERGI"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.35","unstructured":"Fidler D . Navigating the Global Health Terrain: Mapping Global Health Diplomacy. Articles by Maurer Faculty 2011."},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.36","first-page":"3145","article-title":"Opportunities and Challenges for Regional Coordination of Infectious Disease Control Comment on \u201cOperationalising Regional Cooperation for Infectious Disease Control: A Scoping Review of Regional Disease Control Bodies and Networks\u201d","volume":"11","author":"Standley","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Health Policy Manag"},{"key":"2025092601450505000_10.9.e018342.37","first-page":"3141","article-title":"What Can We Learn From Others to Develop a Regional Centre for Infectious Diseases in ASEAN? 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Available: https:\/\/www.gpmb.org\/monitoring-framework [Accessed 08 Apr 2024]."}],"container-title":["BMJ Global Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjgh-2024-018342","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,26]],"date-time":"2025-09-26T08:45:20Z","timestamp":1758876320000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/gh.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjgh-2024-018342"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]},"references-count":39,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,26]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjgh-2024-018342"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjgh-2024-018342","relation":{},"ISSN":["2059-7908"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2059-7908","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]}}}