A spirited mix of science, innovation, big ideas, and even bigger personalities swept through the Thai capital last week as the “We Are the World” 2025 Global Health Summit wrapped up in Bangkok. Initiated by Hong Kong entrepreneur Dr Adrian Cheng together with partners Mr Michael Chin and Miss Josephine Ko, the event delivered a refreshing blast of cross-border collaboration and has already been hailed as the unofficial launch of a new “Health Silk Road”.
Hosted over three packed days, the summit pulled together an impressive constellation of global medical authorities, investors, policymakers, and clinical specialists.
What made this gathering stand out was its bold attempt to close long-standing gaps between Innovation Western Medicine, TCM, Biotechnology, Regenerative Medicine, and the Traditional Western medical and pharmacy industry.
In a world where health information often travels more slowly than a Bangkok tuk-tuk at rush hour, the founders set out to build a platform where ideas can finally catch up.
For the first time in the World, dozens of clinical experts from the U.S. FDA regulatory sphere, traditional Chinese medicine, regenerative medicine, and innovative Western medicine spoke on the same stage. Collectively, they brought more than a thousand years of professional experience and over a million clinical cases. The result was a lively exchange of solutions for chronic diseases and pain conditions that have long defied conventional approaches.
Across 52 focused sessions, speakers demonstrated practical examples of integrated medicine in action. Public science briefings unpacked real clinical cases and demystified often misunderstood regulatory frameworks.
Collectively, they brought more than a thousand years of professional experience and over a million clinical cases.
A key message was reiterated throughout the summit, “Any form of cell therapy must fully comply with national legislation, undergo thorough animal and human Clinical trials, and receive Local Government formal approval. In addition, according to proposed regional guidelines for Asia, the price per injection should not exceed US$10,000”, agreed the collective experts.
The summit repeatedly emphasised that patients must obtain Clinical Trial information through official local government channels rather than relying on hospitals, clinics, or doctors themselves.
This guidance is particularly critical given the current absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework for clinical trials and treatment guidelines across Southeast Asia. This regulatory vacuum creates a high-risk environment and permits the proliferation of unverified medical practices, including unauthorised human injections.
The founders’ passion was shaped by their own frustrations with rigid medical systems. Their belief in integrated care began after seeing renewed hope through the combined strengths of Chinese medicine, Western medicine, and regenerative techniques.
Inspired by the spirit of the 1985 anthem “We Are the World”, the founders together donated and supported more than one hundred patients with cancer, diabetes, and severe chronic conditions, helping many regain health and optimism.
More than 1,000 global delegates attended the summit, while the gala finale welcomed over 300 leaders from politics, business, finance, medicine experts, and academia. Notable guests included Mohamed Alabbar of Emaar Group, TAY Choon Chong of Temasek’s Vertex Ventures, and Merrill Lynch’s Dr Tony Yin, along with more than twenty Ambassadors.
Five primary outcomes shaped the summit’s legacy.
These included breaking cross-border information barriers, setting strict safety principles for cell technologies, rejecting paid endorsements, launching the “Doctor Hero Alliance” with more than twenty top global experts, including a USFDA lifetime award for cell regulations, and creating a strategic partnership with the Chinese Medicine Culture Congress to expand the international reach of Chinese medicine.
Global media was impressive. China Daily offered full-page coverage to its 450 million readers, while People’s Daily, Ta Kung Pao, and more than a hundred media outlets ran extensive reports. TVB producers released a hundred short videos, generating engagement across the worldwide Chinese-speaking community.
Although participation in the Thai medical industry and medical universities was minimal, the organisers achieved a remarkable feat in just 10 months, uniting global billionaires, financial leaders, medical pioneers, academic powerhouses, and leading international media. The next summit is confirmed for the UAE in 2027, continuing its mission of medical co-creation and shared growth to enhance the world.
By Andrew J Wood – (c) 2025
Read Time: 4 minutes.
About the Writer
A Yorkshireman by birth and a Bangkokian by choice, Andrew J Wood has been exploring Southeast Asia’s hospitality and culinary landscapes since 1991. A seasoned travel writer, raconteur, and hotel reviewer, Andrew combines old-school courtesy with a dry wit that’s unmistakably English.
His love of gracious service and good manners, traits he believes the world could use more of, shines through every word he writes. From the gleaming hotel lobbies of Bangkok to the bustling markets of Hanoi, he finds joy in the details: a warm smile, a well-brewed cup of tea, or a perfectly folded napkin.
For Andrew, travel isn’t just about movement; it’s about meaning, memory, and the gentle art of slowing down. In his book, the perfect Sunday is unhurried, well-fed, and always finished with something sweet.
