Even with the widespread rollout of vaccines, negative COVID test results remain a requirement for crossing borders in most countries. In this Q&A, global health expert Dr Swee Kheng (“SK”) Khor discusses the current state of border control policy in the Asia Pacific region and the critical role of clinical laboratories in safe travel ecosystems.

• [00:06] – SK’s journey into health policy
• [02:14] – Role of public health professionals in border control policy
• [03:26] – Current landscape of border control in Asia Pacific
• [08:17] – Realistic first steps for relaxing border controls
• [09:22] – Role of testing in ensuring safe reopening
• [12:23] – Building trusted cross-border laboratory ecosystems
• [13:55] – How vaccine rollout will impact the role of diagnostics
• [16:37] – COVID passports and their role in border control
• [17:27] – History of health passes and key precedents
• [18:47] – Advice to labs for shaping policy

Watch the full Q&A below (click the buttons on the play bar to jump to any specific segment that interests you).