The burden of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs), e.g, mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, has been shouldered primarily by the developed countries of the West, or the “rich West.” This is a consequence of the heavy dependence on asbestos use up to around the 1970s by those countries. The developing countries, in general, started to depend on asbestos use after the 1970s and thus have not yet reached the sufficient latency time for ARDs to manifest.

Sadly enough, the majority of countries that decided to move towards banning or a de facto non-dependence of asbestos had to first experience the tragic burden of ARDs in their own countries (i.e., “forerunner” group). Many developing countries, especially those in Asia, along with several CIS countries, continue to use asbestos at substantial levels without yet having experienced the burden of ARDs (i.e., “runner-up” group). However, it is important to recognize the time-race against the latency time quickly being used up in the runner-up countries where the political will for asbestos ban is poor and the technology for medical recognition, reporting and recording of ARDs is lacking. The forerunner countries have a moral obligation to share their lessons and transfer the relevant preventive technologies in an efficient manner.

There is thus a strong case for international collaboration in the occupational health arena involving national administrators, practitioners, academia, NGOs and international organizations, for the promotion of a world-wide asbestos ban, first and foremost, but also the prevention of exposure in combination with the effective recognition, reporting and recording of ARDs in the respective countries. Some examples of the international efforts are the Asian Asbestos Initiative (AAI) and the WHO Global Plan of Action on the Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases by the WHO Collaborating Centres for Occupational Health, with which progresses have been made but hurdles also encountered. The author has been serving as the Coordinator of the former (AAI-1 through AAI-3) and the Initiative Leader of the latter.