All the countries in ASEAN are facing several common barriers to achieving UHC, namely 1) financial constraints; 2) supply side constraints; and 3) the ongoing epidemiological transition at different stages, characterized by increasing burdens of NCDs, persisting infectious diseases, and reemerging potentially pandemic infectious diseases.
At the same time, the ASEAN countries are facing an epidemiological transition with increased morbidity and mortality from NCDs.
ASEAN will face other regional crises, and unless its members are prepared to criticise, negotiate and, if necessary, impose sanctions, problems will continue to smoulder, much like the forest floor.
ASEAN also faces a demographic transition to a greater share of the elderly as a proportion of total population.
The last Asean summit in July broke up acrimoniously, without a joint communique, with China facing accusations of using its clout to force host Cambodia to keep the territorial issue off the agenda.
The ASEAN region also faces the challenges of 'emerging' disasters.
Like most ASEAN countries, Brunei faces an epidemic of non-communicable diseases.
Overall, the five ASEAN countries continue to face implementation challenges, and will need to improve on their UHC design in order to ensure genuine inclusion of migrants, including undocumented migrants.
The China-Asean free trade area has faced less vocal opposition than the European and North American zones, perhaps because tariffs were already low and because it was unlikely to alter commerce patterns radically, analysts say.
The China-Asean free trade area has faced less vocal opposition than the European and North American zones, perhaps because existing tariffs were already low and because it is unlikely to alter commerce patterns radically, analysts say.
