Health experts across Asean have come together to form a network that is looking to tackle non-communicable diseases which are prevalent in the region. This includes diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases.

The Asean Non-communicable Disease network, which is organised by electronics company Philips, includes experts from Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia who will exchange best practices and ideas on how to tackle these diseases.

Information collated from the network will also help with a study being led by National University of Singapore's Dr Jeremy Lim. The study looks at case studies of innovations in the management of the these diseases in different countries.

Non-communicable diseases are diseases which are not transmissible between people. In Singapore, these diseases account for about 80 per cent of deaths here, with cardiovascular diseases having the highest mortality at 33 per cent.