Background
Health is a fundamental determinant of sustainable development, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Achieving this goal leads to longer life expectancy, lower maternal and child mortality, and reduced impact from both infectious and noncommunicable diseases.
One of the key strategies to reach SDG 3 is Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which ensures that all individuals have access to essential health services without financial hardship. Strong, inclusive national health systems are vital – not only to improve the health of individual countries, but also for advancing global health security and resilience.
The complexity of modern health challenges calls for a transformative approach that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Interdisciplinary study that combines multiple scientific perspectives accelerates the development of health science, enabling researchers and practitioners to discuss global health issues from various viewpoints is essential to building resilient health systems capable of addressing multifaceted determinants of health. Such collaboration facilitates the integration of scientific innovations with socio-economic and cultural considerations, which is vital for reducing persistent health disparities.
A meaningful transformation in healthcare can only be achieved by integrating several key elements: technological advancement, continuous progress in therapeutic science, and efforts to address the health-social gap in society. The rapid development and deployment of digital health technologies—including telemedicine, electronic health records, health informatics, and artificial intelligence—have the potential to enhance healthcare delivery, improve disease surveillance, and enable personalized medicine. Online health platforms facilitate greater access to care, particularly for underserved populations, thereby contributing to equity in health services.
Moreover, continuous progress in therapeutic sciences—ranging from novel pharmaceuticals and precision medicine to advanced diagnostics and minimally invasive procedures—strengthens the foundation of effective health interventions. These advances improve patient outcomes, reduce treatment costs, and support sustainable health system functioning.
However, technological and scientific progress alone is insufficient without addressing underlying social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, gender inequality, and access to clean environments. Integrating technology with socially responsive policies and systems ensures that innovations translate into meaningful health improvements for all populations.
This conference seeks to explore and redefine health transformation through a holistic lens—one that integrates technological innovation, social system reform, and equity-focused approaches. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, the conference aims to identify actionable strategies to reduce health disparities and accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 3 globally.
Driven by a shared commitment to advancing global health, the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), in collaboration with the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro (FKM UNDIP), is proud to host an international conference on health science, practice, and education (ICOHESPE 2025). Under the central theme, “Redefining Health Transformation: Integrating Technology, Social Systems, and Equity to Reduce Health Disparities,” the event emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration to drive sustainable improvements in public health.
Key focus areas include the promotion of health education, physical activity, and environmentally conscious lifestyles; innovations in preventive and digital medicine; strengthening health system resilience through collaboration between professionals and communities; improving the quality and equity of health services; enhancing health literacy to support better quality of life; fostering intercultural understanding and responsibility; and building partnerships among universities, research institutions, health organizations, and industry stakeholders.
This comprehensive event serves as a platform for academic researchers, healthcare professionals, and practitioners from diverse disciplines to engage in meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange aimed at addressing pressing global health challenges. The conference unites experts from local, regional, and international settings to share cutting-edge research, innovative ideas, and practical experiences in areas such as health systems, digital health, and healthcare delivery.
The aims of this conference were:
To explore and define the direction and role of health science in advancing health system transformation by integrating technology, social systems, and equity, in order to reduce health disparities at local, national, and global levels.
To provide actionable recommendations for the development of resilient health systems, emphasizing digital transformation, data-driven policy, and community engagement for all stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, and health professionals.
To disseminate the latest research findings and innovations in public health, one health, planetary health, health surveillance, data-driven policy, medical and interdisciplinary health sciences, digital health, nutrition, pharmacy, and health technology, both in the Asian context and globally.
To strengthen relationships and networks among participants—individuals and institutions such as universities, professional associations, research centers, health organizations, and the health industry—locally, nationally, and internationally, who are committed to improving public health education and services.
To encourage knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement in developing technology-based and community-based solutions for enhancing the quality of health services and reducing health disparities.