Rapid Changes in Asia Alter Health Landscape
K. Srinath Reddy
Many of the highly populous nations of the world are located in Asia. China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan together add up to 45 percent of the world’s population. The health status of these countries, therefore, has a major bearing on global health indicators. Most of the countries of this large continent fall into the low- and middle-income categories. Their health profile is similar to that of developing countries across the world, with some regional variations. The rapid changes in the developmental and demographic profiles of these countries over the past two decades are reflected in an altered mix of the major public health challenges that they now face.
Until about 30 years ago, the developing countries of Asia were mainly threatened by infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies and unsafe pregnancies, resulting in a huge burden of death and disability in childhood and early adulthood. This pattern has now changed, swiftly and substantively.
