About APCO

The Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis (APCO) comprises Osteoporosis experts from several countries in Asia Pacific, charged with developing tangible solutions to the substantive challenges involving osteoporosis management and fracture prevention in this most populated and fastest growing region of the world.

Representing multiple medical and surgical specialties, the Consortium has developed a pan-Asia Pacific “Framework” for the introduction and implementation of minimum clinical standards for the screening, diagnosis and management of osteoporosis targeting a broad range of high-risk groups.

APCO became a free standing legal entity in October 2021 and we are registered as Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis HK Limited.

APCO strives to ensure equitable geographic representation of APCO members throughout Asia Pacific, to accommodate the wide variation in national population numbers in the region.

Osteoporosis in APAC

  • Osteoporosis and its dreaded complication of fragility fractures, compound the burden of Asia Pacific’s rapidly ageing societies.1
  • More than 1.1 million hip fractures were estimated to have occurred in China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand in 2018 incurring an estimated direct cost of USD 7.5 billion.2
  • By 2050, the number of hip fractures are projected to increase by 2.3-fold, to more than 2.5 million cases each year, resulting in staggering projected costs of almost USD 13 billion.2

Mission

To engage with relevant stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policy makers and the public, to help develop and implement country and region-specific programs for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and its complication of fragility fractures, in Asia Pacific.

Vision

To move towards reducing the burden of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in the Asia Pacific region
This will be achieved by:
  • Securing stakeholder acceptance of osteoporosis as a key public health priority
  • Creating solutions to minimise the burden of osteoporosis and reduce fragility fractures
  • Enabling healthier ageing through fewer fractures

Disrupting the status quo in osteoporosis management in the Asia Pacific – The Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis (APCO) and The APCO Framework

VIEW THE VIDEOS

The APCO expert video series captures the individual voices of four key APCO members. These members  represent the diverse make up of APCO – a unique organisation comprising 62 osteoporosis experts from 24 countries and regions in the Asia Pacific, whose collective ideology crosses political boundaries and barriers.

Each expert reflects on the osteoporosis landscape in their respective country, outlines various efforts underway to address the burden of osteoporosis, and explains how The APCO Framework can be implemented across the region to improve the screening, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis.

In addition, the Chairperson of APCO, Professor Manju Chandran, reflects on the establishment of APCO and its altruistic intent. The CEO of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and APCO Executive Committee Member, Dr Philippe Halbout, discusses the unique perspective the IOF brings to APCO.

APCO-KOL-video-series-_6SEPT21-2

Membership

Launched in Singapore on May 4, 2019, APCO currently comprises clinical expert representatives from the following countries and regions:
  • Australia
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Chinese Taipei
  • Hong Kong SAR
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Malaysia
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Switzerland
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Governance

APCO Executive Committee Chair

APCO Chairperson, Prof (Dr) Manju Chandran is a Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and Director of the Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Unit, that she established at Singapore General Hospital in 2007.

Prof Chandran holds a Fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, USA. She is a Board Member and Chair of the Fracture Working Group of the Committee of Scientific Advisors in International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). She is also the Vice President of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD), Past Chair of its Asia Pacific panel, past President of the Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Singapore (EMSS) and a Past Chairperson of the Chapter of Endocrinologists, College of Physicians Singapore. She is also a member of the Bone Health Expert Group (BOHEG) of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

She has won numerous international awards including the IOF Olof Johnell Science award 2021, ISCD Oscar S. Gluck Humanitarian Award 2025, the ISCD International Clinician of the Year award 2023, the IOF Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Asia Pacific, the IOF CNS (Committee of National Societies) Medal of Excellence in 2015, and the IOF Young Investigator Award in 2013. Prof Chandran is a fellow of the American Society of Bone Mineral Research (ASBMR), American College of Physicians (ACP), American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and the Academy of Medicine Singapore (AMS).

Dr Manju Chandran
APCO Executive Committee members
(as of October 2021)
  • 1 Dr Philippe Halbout, International Osteoporosis Foundation, Nyon, Switzerland
  • 2 Dr Greg Lyubomirsky, Healthy Bones Australia, Sydney, Australia
  • 3 Professor Peter Ebeling, AO, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
  • 4 Professor Tuan Nguyen, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • 5 Professor Sanjay K. Bhadada, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
  • 6 Adjunct Professor Paul Mitchell, School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Australia
  • 7 Dr Aysha Habib Khan, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 8 Dr Sarath Lekamwasam, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
  • 9 Clinical Assistant Professor David Lui, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Other APCO members
(as of October 2021)
  • 1 Dr Cae Tolman, Amgen, Industry Representative, Sydney, Australia (non-voting member)
  • 2 Dr Nigel Gilchrist, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • 3 Professor John Eisman, AO, Emeritus Fellow, Osteoporosis and Translational Research Lab, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
  • 4 Dr Tiu Kwok Leung, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
  • 5 Professor Minhaj Rahim Choudhury, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 6 Associate Professor Md. Abu Shahin, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 7 Dr Yung Chee Kwang, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • 8 Professor Weibo Xia, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
  • 9 Dr Zhao Yanling, Beijing United Family Hospital, Beijing, China
  • 10 Professor Qun Cheng, Huadong Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
  • 11 Professor Derrick Chan, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Chinese Taipei
  • 12 Dr Edith Lau, Hong Kong Orthopaedic and Osteoporosis Center for Treatment and Research, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
  • 13 Professor Ambrish Mithal, Max Healthcare - Saket, New Delhi, India
  • 14 Professor Liu Jianmin, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
  • 15 Dr Tai-Pang Ip, Tung Wah Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
  • 16 Dr Usha Sriram, Indian Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR), Chennai, India
  • 17 Dr Thomas Paul, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
  • 18 Professor Manoj Chadha, Hinduja Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India
  • 19 Dr Gunawan Tirtarahardja, Indonesian Osteoporosis Association, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • 20 Professor Akira Taguchi, Matsumoto Dental University, Nagano, Japan
  • 21 Professor Atsushi Suzuki, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
  • 22 Dr Hew Fen Lee, Puchong Medical Specialist Centre and Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Malaysia
  • 23 Dato’ Dr Lee Joon Kiong, Beacon Hospital, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
  • 24 Dr Tet Tun Chit, Yangon General Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar
  • 25 Professor Tint Swe Latt, Shwe Baho Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar
  • 26 Dr Dipendra Pandey, National Trauma Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • 27 Professor Ian Reid, CNZM, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 28 Dr Irewin Tabu, University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • 29 Professor Leilani Asis, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
  • 30 Professor Yoon-Sok Chung, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
  • 31 Dr Dong Ock Lee, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
  • 32 Professor Kee Hyung Rhyu, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 33 Dr Lau Tang Ching, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  • 34 Dr Tanawat Amphansap, Police General Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 35 Dr Thanut Valleenukul, MD, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 36 Associate Professor Vu Thanh Thuy, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • 37 Dr Lan Ho-Pham, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • 38 Associate Professor Nicholas Pocock, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
  • 39 Dr Myadagmaa Jaalkhorol, Mongolian Naran Society for Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • 40 Professor Moe Wint Aung, Yangon General Hospital affiliated to University of Medicine 1, Yangon, Myanmar
  • 41 Dr Kinzang Dorji, Eastern Regional Referral Hospital, Mongar, Bhutan
  • 42 Prof Jawl-Shan Hwang, Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association, Taipei, Chinese Taipei
  • 43 Dr Paulus Rahardjo, Indonesian Osteoporosis Society (PEROSI), Jakarta, Indonesia
  • 44 Associate Professor Julie Tan Li-Yu, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
  • 45 Professor Rosy Setiawati, Surabaya Orthopedic and Traumatology Hospital, Indonesia
  • 46 Assoc. Prof. Natthinee Charatcharoenwitthaya, Thammasat University, Thailand
  • 47 Prof Yumie Rhee, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
  • 48 Dr Lakshmi Nagendra, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher education and Research, India
  • 49 Dr. Ronald M.Y. Wong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
  • 50 Dr Sibtain Ahmed, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 51 Prof Sum Satha, Internal Medicine Unit - Calmette Hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • 52 Dr Chandrika J Subasinghe, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
References

  1. The Economist Intelligence Unit, Ageing with strength: Addressing fragility fractures in Asia-Pacific. 2019.

  2. Ebeling, P., et al., Secondary prevention of fragility fractures in Asia Pacific: an educational initiative. Osteoporosis International, 2019.
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