The Asian-Pacific Society of Hypertension (APSH) was officially established in 1997 but was preceded by the Pacific Rim Society of Hypertension. The Pacific Rim society was suggested by Morteon Prince at a meeting of the Inter American Society of Hypertension Held in San Diego in 1993. The suggestion was enthusiastically adopted by representatives of Australia and Japan.
A symposium for potential Asian members was held in Melbourne in 1994 at the time of the meeting of the ISH and was organized by Professor Colin Johnston. The first meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan in 1995 and was an outstanding scientific success. The second meeting was held in Manilla, Philippines in 1997 and was attended by over 1000 delegates. It proved difficult to maintain contact with an appropriate American body as the Chairmanship of the IASH moved away from the Pacific coast and travel between Asia and South American Pacific Rim nations was difficult. Accordingly it was decided to change the emphasis of the organisation into one representing the Asian Pacific Region and this was agreed to by the Council of the ISH and the APSH became the official representative body in this region.
The first meeting was held in Bali, Indonesia in 1999. The organization was hampered by political unrest in Indonesia but a very successful meeting was held attended by more than 1000 delegates. The second meeting was held in Pattaya, Thailand in 2001 and was very successful. The organization of the 3rd meeting in Singapore was disrupted by the SARS epidemic and had to be postponed to April 2004. Due to these events it was smaller than the previous meetings but scientifically was successful. The 4th meeting held in Seoul, Korea was very successful and was attended by more than 1200 delegates. It was successful scientifically, clinically and socially. It was marked by a large increase in original free communications. The 5th meeting was combined with the 21st meeting of the ISH in Fukuoka, Japan in October 2006 and was an exciting and informative meeting. This was the first of a number of combined meetings with the International Society of Hypertension and has been followed by combined meetings in Sydney, Korea and China.
A symposium for potential Asian members was held in Melbourne in 1994 at the time of the meeting of the ISH and was organized by Professor Colin Johnston. The first meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan in 1995 and was an outstanding scientific success. The second meeting was held in Manilla, Philippines in 1997 and was attended by over 1000 delegates. It proved difficult to maintain contact with an appropriate American body as the Chairmanship of the IASH moved away from the Pacific coast and travel between Asia and South American Pacific Rim nations was difficult. Accordingly it was decided to change the emphasis of the organisation into one representing the Asian Pacific Region and this was agreed to by the Council of the ISH and the APSH became the official representative body in this region.
The first meeting was held in Bali, Indonesia in 1999. The organization was hampered by political unrest in Indonesia but a very successful meeting was held attended by more than 1000 delegates. The second meeting was held in Pattaya, Thailand in 2001 and was very successful. The organization of the 3rd meeting in Singapore was disrupted by the SARS epidemic and had to be postponed to April 2004. Due to these events it was smaller than the previous meetings but scientifically was successful. The 4th meeting held in Seoul, Korea was very successful and was attended by more than 1200 delegates. It was successful scientifically, clinically and socially. It was marked by a large increase in original free communications. The 5th meeting was combined with the 21st meeting of the ISH in Fukuoka, Japan in October 2006 and was an exciting and informative meeting. This was the first of a number of combined meetings with the International Society of Hypertension and has been followed by combined meetings in Sydney, Korea and China.