# Sarawak Secures Landmark Win to Host APAC's Leading Lung Disease Conference in 2028

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/sarawak-secures-landmark-win-to-host-apacs-leading-lung-disease-conference-in-2028
- Published: 2026-04-27T21:11:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

KUCHING, Malaysia, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sarawak has won hosting rights 
for the 11th Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2028 (APRC 2028) of the International
Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, marking a significant milestone in 
the destination’s continued rise as the legacy capital of business events in Malaysia
and Borneo.

 [ ⌊Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian with APRC 2028 organising committee and event collaborators⌉ ](https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2966395/IMG_0344.html)

Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian with APRC 2028 organising committee and event collaborators

Scheduled for 23–26 March 2028 in Kuching, in conjunction with World Tuberculosis
Day, the conference is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates from across the 
Asia Pacific (APAC) region, generating an estimated total economic impact of RM8.2
million. It will be the first time APRC is hosted in Borneo, and the second time
in Malaysia since Kuala Lumpur in 2007.

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s most urgent public health challenges, driven
by the rise of drug-resistant strains, delayed diagnoses, treatment adherence gaps,
persistent stigma, and unequal access to healthcare. Across the Asia-Pacific, the
diversity of healthcare systems further complicates coordinated control efforts.

In Sarawak, efforts to strengthen early detection and access to care are already
underway, including the adoption of portable handheld X-ray technology by the Bintulu
Divisional Health Office to enhance tuberculosis screening, particularly in reaching
underserved and remote communities. However, scaling these efforts across the region
requires stronger collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange.

APRC 2028 will respond to this need by bringing together global and regional leaders
to accelerate practical solutions in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, while
strengthening partnerships across borders and sectors.

"APRC 2028 directly supports Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, 
where healthcare is not only about treatment, but about equity and inclusion. The
Sarawak government’s support towards APRC 2028 is our commitment to ensuring that
Sarawak’s healthcare system is inclusive, accessible, and leaves no one behind,"
said **The Honourable Datuk Amar Prof. Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier and Minister
of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Sarawak. **"Better prevention and
control of tuberculosis and other lung diseases require strong collaboration between
government, academia and communities to improve access, strengthen awareness, and
build trust. This is critical in addressing stigma, ensuring people feel safe and
supported to seek early diagnosis and treatment."

"We want to bridge science, policy, and practice for a tuberculosis-free future 
and better lung health for all, hence the APRC 2028 will feature a large-scale programme
with workshops, plenaries, symposiums, and community outreach sessions to include
all segments of society. We believe that everyone – government, associations, industry,
academia and local communities – can be advocates for a tuberculosis-free future,"
said **Prof.** **Dato’ Dr Abdul Razak bin Abdul Muttalif, Organising Chairman of
APRC 2028 and member of the Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis(
MAPTB). **

"Winning APRC 2028 reflects Sarawak’s growing reputation as the legacy capital of
business events in Malaysia and Borneo," said **Jason Tan Chin Foo, Acting Chief
Executive Officer of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak)**. "With strong government
backing under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 and BESarawak’s legacy
framework, we are committed to ensuring that APRC 2028 delivers meaningful legacy
outcomes. By convening global experts and stakeholders, the conference will catalyse
advancing solutions to critical health challenges, particularly tuberculosis, while
contributing to long-term development goals aligned with national priorities and
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals."

APRC 2028 is organised by the Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis(
MAPTB) in collaboration with the Sarawak State Health Department, Malaysian Thoracic
Association, the Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Sarawak (ATAS), and Universiti
Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). APRC 2028 is supported by the Ministry of Public Health,
Housing and Local Government Sarawak and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak).

**ABOUT BUSINESS EVENTS SARAWAK (BIRO KONVENSYEN SARAWAK /** **砂拉越会展局**)

Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) is a strategic advisor driving legacy impact
through business events. As a Sarawak Government non-profit, we provide advice, 
support, and services to develop and host impact-driven events that deliver lasting
value.

The business events industry is a key contributor to Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development
Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), with BESarawak trusted to facilitate outcomes that support
Sarawak’s sustainable growth and advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development
Goals (UN SDGs). More at [www.businesseventssarawak.com](http://www.businesseventssarawak.com/).

**ABOUT LEGACY IMPACT**

Legacy impact refers to the positive, long-term change generated through business
events. In Sarawak, conventions and exhibitions are structured to create legacies,
whereas corporate meetings and incentive programmes emphasise the experience of 
legacies. Through strategic event planning, programming, and curated experiences,
Sarawak aims to build a legacy of innovation, collaboration, and sustainable impact,
generating tangible benefits for communities, industries, and the region.

---

  |  This article was produced by Cision PR Newswire, our trusted news partner. The views expressed and the content presented here are solely those of the author and may not fully reflect the opinions of Thailand Business News. |

---

 
**Read the original article :** [Sarawak Secures Landmark Win to Host APAC's Leading Lung Disease Conference in 2028 ](http://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/4943985_AE43985_0?rand=184833)