The health improvements in southeast Asia over recent decades have been nothing short of extraordinary. Infant mortality rates have fallen dramatically, life expectancy at all ages has increased and effective programmes to address communicable diseases have been put in place. Since 1950, life expectancy at birth has risen by more than 30 years, from 43 then to 75 now.
Universal health coverage in a number of southeast Asian countries (for example, in Thailand) has significantly contributed to this. Coupled with better education, improved women’s rights, effective communication and…
