Social Prescribing: A New Series from WHO and The Lancet in the Western Pacific (2026)

In a groundbreaking collaboration, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific has teamed up with The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific to unveil a new series focused on social prescribing. This initiative showcases how community-driven methods can significantly enhance health and well-being throughout the region.

This series compiles technical documents and empirical evidence regarding various social prescribing models implemented in different locations across the Western Pacific. It represents a pivotal partnership aimed at fortifying the evidence foundation for integrated care that is centered around individuals and deeply rooted in local communities.

So, what exactly is social prescribing?

Social prescribing functions as a bridge connecting individuals to community services that do not involve clinical interventions. These may include activities such as social clubs, exercise sessions, or peer support networks. The primary goal is to improve individual health and well-being by tackling underlying social factors that impact health, reducing feelings of loneliness, and enhancing social ties, which are essential for healthy aging.

Bridging the Gap: The Asian Perspective

While the concept of social prescribing has gained momentum in Europe and North America, there's been a notable scarcity of evidence from Asian contexts. This new series aims to fill that void by sharing valuable insights from countries within the Western Pacific, particularly drawing from the experiences of Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Dr. Mikiko Kanda, who leads the Healthy Ageing unit at the WHO in the Western Pacific Region, stated, "Our partnership with The Lancet brings regional insights into the global dialogue surrounding social prescribing. It provides nations with strategies that resonate with their cultural contexts, systems, and community strengths, ensuring that approaches for promoting healthy aging are tailored appropriately."

A Trailblazer in Social Prescribing

Since 2020, the Western Pacific Healthy Ageing unit of WHO has taken the lead in advocating for social prescribing, becoming the first WHO division to officially present this concept to its Member States. The organization has played a crucial role in developing global resources, including the WHO Social Prescribing Toolkit and a specialized course offered through the WHO Academy.

Building on a fruitful history of collaboration with The Lancet, which includes a prior special issue dedicated to healthy aging, this latest series features contributions from experts across the region. Notable collaborators include SingHealth Community Hospitals in Singapore and the Kyoto University School of Public Health in Japan, both recognized as WHO collaborating centers.

Supporting Nations in Achieving Healthy Aging

As populations continue to age and issues related to social disconnection become more prevalent, there is growing enthusiasm for social prescribing across the region. This approach seeks to effectively combat social isolation and loneliness while integrating health, social, and long-term care services.

Countries such as Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia are increasingly interested in implementing social prescribing strategies, while Australia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore are actively working towards adopting this model.

Furthermore, social prescribing has gained recognition as a viable strategy in the inaugural report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection. However, there remains a pressing need for more robust evidence to inform policies and programs that tackle social isolation and loneliness effectively. Consequently, WHO is urging Member States and academic collaborations to generate further evidence through research, thereby enriching the global knowledge base.

WHO is dedicated to providing continuous technical assistance to ensure that these initiatives are customized to meet the distinct cultural and structural requirements of each country. This commitment aims to cultivate more resilient and age-friendly societies.

Looking Ahead

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Equity at Kyoto University School of Public Health will host an international conference on social prescribing scheduled for May 27-28, 2026. For those seeking additional information about the conference, more details are available online.

If you would like to learn more about social prescribing or have specific inquiries, please reach out to the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific Healthy Ageing unit via email or visit our website.