The ASEAN Federation of Cardiology (AFC) was conceptualized in 1973, when all official representatives of the five cardiac societies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand agreed to form a nonpolitical federation for the advancement of cardiology practice and education in Southeast Asia.
In October 1975, the first meeting of the AFC took place in Bali, Indonesia. It was organized by Dr. Sukaman Sumaryono of Indonesia and attended by Drs. Lily Rilantono, Boedi Darmajo and Asikin Hanafiah. The representatives from Malaysia included Dr. Joseph Eravelly and Prof. R.P. Pillay; from the Philippines, Drs H.B. Calleja, Avenilo Aventura and Yolando Sulit; from Singapore, Drs. Charles Toh, Low Lip Ping, Chia Boon Lock, Joseph Sheares, N.C. Tan, Dixie Tan, Lim Chin Hock and Lenny Tan; and from Thailand, Drs. Kamol Sindhavanonda, Kumpol Prachuabmoh and Prinya Sakiyalak.
It was decided that a biennial congress would be held and rotated amongst the five original countries of ASEAN – Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The organizing chairperson becomes the President of the AFC until the next congress. Vietnam joined in 2006, Laos and Myanmar in 2007, Brunei in 2014, and Cambodia, most recently in 2015.
| No. | Year | Venue | Organizing Chairperson |
| 1. | 1975 | Bali, Indonesia | Dr. Sukaman Sumaryono |
| 2. | 1977 | Manila, Philippines | Dr. Avenilo Aventura |
| 3. | 1980 | Singapore | Dr. Tan Ngoh Chuan |
| 4. | 1982 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Dr. J. S. Eapan |
| 5. | 1984 | Bangkok, Thailand | Dr. Kumpol Prachuabmoh |
| 6. | 1986 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Dr. Lily I. Rilantono |
| 7. | 1988 | Manila, Philippines | Dr. Ramiro M de Guia |
| 8. | 1990 | Singapore | Dr. Joseph Sheares |
| 9. | 1992 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Dr. Kenneth Chin |
| 10. | 1994 | Bangkok, Thailand | Dr. Prinya Sakiyalak |
| 11. | 1996 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Dr. Dede Kusmana |
| 12. | 1998 | Manila, Philippines | Dr. Antonio Sibulo |
| 13. | 2000 | Singapore | Dr. Richard Ng |
| 14. | 2002 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Dr. David K. L. Quek |
| 15. | 2004 | Pattaya, Thailand | Dr. Supachai Chaithiraphan |
| 16. | 2007 | Bali, Indonesia | Dr. Idris Idham |
| 17. | 2008 | Hanoi, Vietnam | Dr. Pham Gia Khai |
| 18. | 2010 | Cebu, Philippines | Dr. Eleanor Lopez |
| 19. | 2012 | Singapore | Dr. Kenny Sin |
| 20. | 2014 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Dr. Rosli Mohd Ali |
| 21. | 2016 | Yangon, Myanmar | Dr. Khin Maung Lwin |
| 22. | 2017 | Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei | Dr. Sofian Johar |
| 23. | 2018 | Bangkok, Thailand | Dr. Chumpol Piamsomboon |
| 24. | 2019 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Dr. Antonia Lukito |
| 25. | 2021 | Siem Reap, Cambodia | Dr. Sok Chour |
| 26. | 2022 | Manila, Philippines | Dr. Jude Erric L. Cinco |
| 27. | 2023 | Hanoi, Vietnam | Dr. Huynh Van Minh |
This was inaugurated in 2006 as an academic arm of AFC under the Founding Director, Dr. Richard Ng.
First convocation: Bali, 2007; 39 Fellows
Second convocation: Hanoi, 2008; 82 Fellows
Third convocation: Cebu, 2010; 97 Fellows
Fourth convocation: Singapore, 2012; 80 Fellows
Fifth convocation: Kuala Lumpur, 2014; 92 Fellows
Sixth convocation: Yangon, 2016; 65 Fellows
Seventh convocation: Brunei, 2017; 75 Fellows
Eighth convocation: Bangkok, 2018; 69 Fellows
Nineth convocation: Jakarta, 2019; 81 Fellows
Tenth convocation (Virtual): Siem Reap, 2021; 53 Fellows
Eleventh convocation (Virtual): Manila, 2022; 33 Fellows
Twelfth convocation: Hanoi, 2023; 94 Fellows
Total No. of Fellows: 860
AFC First Decade 1975-1985
AFC Second Decade 1985-1995
AFC Third Decade 1995-2005
AFC Fourth Decade 2005 to 2015
AFC Fifth Decade 2015-2025
Secretary-General
Honorary Treasurer
Executive Secretary
Editors in chief of ASEAN Heart Journal
