ASIA-PACIFIC / HEALTH CARE

The Asia-Pacific region leads the world in economic development and poverty reduction but has a poor record when it comes to health.
Research undertaken by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP) has found that the region needs to invest around $685 billion over the next 8 years to ensure proper health care and continued progress for its populations.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kim Hak-su - Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific:
"We recommend governments must allocate more government expenditure on health. Secondly we also look for the innovative ways of resource mobilization. Public-private sector partnership is another area. Already many of the upper level middle income countries solicit the private sector in health areas. In Thailand for example the private sector health is promoting medical tourism and they are earning a lot of money from this health area too."
Large sections of the population do not have access to basic health-care services, due to low public investments in health and weak health systems.
Out-of-pocket expenditures exceed 60 per cent of the total health expenditures in many countries in the region resulting in impoverishment of many people.
The region has to face a number of challenges before it makes sustainable progress towards achievement of its Millennium Development Goals, (MDG's), as poor health can also impact upon other sectors such as education and gender equality.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kim Hak-su - Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific:
"We also looked at aged people and not enough health care services are provided. Also, the malnutrition side linked to poverty. So health has many dimensions. The health ministry alone cannot solve this problem. In all countries the comprehensive holistic approach is required to strengthen the health system."
On an average, the study has found that the region spends too little on health.
Taking the level of $36 per capita per year as a minimum investment, at least 24 developing countries fell short.
Some nations though have taken the initiative with innovative health schemes for the poor.

SOUNDBITE (English) Kim Hak-su - Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific:
"Furthermore we also propose universal health care. It's not only the rich countries that can afford this. Poor countries have systems, such as Thailand and the 30 baht scheme and Sri Lanka - even though the pocket income is not high, they can provide an all-country health insurance system."
There is strong evidence from within the region which indicates that countries that have invested in health and the social sectors have made sustained economic progress.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kim Hak-su - Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific:
"Investing in health is the best investment. In fact, those countries that allocated resources to the health area achieved high economic growth and also high economic growth contributed to the enhancing health area."
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UNifeed
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