Health Policy in Asia and the Pacific: Navigating Local Needs and Global Challenges

Abstract

Asia and the Pacific are undergoing a remarkable economic transformation which is occurring at an exceptional pace. There is clear evidence of an equally rapid epidemiological transition in the region. This paper sets out the policy challenges of building healthy societies in the context of rapid economic change. The region's location at the crossroads of contemporary globalization, resulting in intensified population mobility, large-scale trade and investment, and pressures to take collective action on shared problems, adds to the complexity of this task. The paper argues that health is integral to building stable and sustainable societies, and that there are opportunities to develop more holistic approaches that bring together hitherto separate policy spheres.

The politics of funding universal healthcare: Diverting local tobacco taxes to subsidise the national health scheme in Indonesia

“…Regardless, compared to other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand (78.6% tax rate), Singapore (67.11% tax rate) and the Philippines (71.32% tax rate), or lower middle income countries such as Bangladesh (71% tax rate), Egypt (77.19% tax rate) and Morocco (71.24% tax rate), Indonesian tobacco tax remains low (WHO, 2019). Nevertheless, although Indonesia's tobacco tax rates are below recommended best practice, directing local tobacco taxes towards community‐based interventions that support promotive and preventive measures can play a crucial role in reducing smoking prevalence and decreasing tobacco‐related morbidity (Douglas et al., 2015; Lee, 2014; Nichter et al., 2010). This is especially the case in rural areas, where citizens are isolated and removed from national health programs administered by the central government (Septiono et al., 2019).…”

Democracy, economic growth and government spending in public health in Southeast Asia

“…Newly industrializing countries such as Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia have increasingly spent on public health programs for the poor like universal coverage (even though they do not entirely cover all complicated diseases. This is because low-income and middle-income people in industrial sector have increasingly demanded for easily accessible programs (Lee, 2014). Changes in economic structure and increase of domestic demand for better health care programs occurred in the midst of political transition to more liberal regime in Southeast Asia.…”