Coronavirus: how prepared are Asia's healthcare systems?

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the region, Consultancy.asia looks into which Asian countries have the best prepared healthcare systems.

With the global coronavirus pandemic taking hold in a growing number of countries, much debate still surrounds which measures are the best to tackle its spread. While the economic impact will likely be profound, the most common method being adopted around the world is strict containment, with entire nations going into total lock-down. This approach is designed to ‘flatten the curve’, in the hope that a delayed spread can prevent overwhelming healthcare apparatus.

Data sourced from The Global Health Security Index (GHS) shows that only three Asian nations rank within the top twenty worldwide – led by Thailand at number six globally. The only non-high income country to feature at the top, Thailand has long been developing its medical infrastructure. Led overall by the US, UK, Netherlands, Australia and Canada in the first five places, below are the rankings and details of the healthcare preparedness of Asia nations.

An overview of the preparedness Asia’s healthcare system for the Coronavirus:

Thailand

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 50-100 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 6 worldwide

South Korea

Region: Eastern Asia
Population: 50-100 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 9 worldwide

Malaysia

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 18 worldwide

Japan

Region: Eastern Asia
Population: 100+ million
Healthcare system preparedness: 21 worldwide

Singapore

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 1-10 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 24 worldwide

Indonesia

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 100+ million
Healthcare system preparedness: 30 worldwide

Mongolia

Region: Eastern Asia
Population: 1-10 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 46 worldwide

Kyrgyz Republic

Region: Central Asia
Population: 1-10 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 47 worldwide

Vietnam

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 50-100 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 50 worldwide

China

Region: Eastern Asia
Population: 100+ million
Healthcare system preparedness: 51 worldwide

Philippines

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 100+ million
Healthcare system preparedness: 53 worldwide

India

Region: Southern Asia
Population: 100+ million
Healthcare system preparedness: 57 worldwide

Myanmar

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 50-100 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 72 worldwide

Laos

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 1-10 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 73 worldwide

Kazakhstan

Region: Central Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 83 worldwide

Bhutan

Region: Southern Asia
Population: <1 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 85 worldwide

Cambodia

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 89 worldwide

Iran

Region: Southern Asia
Population: 50-100 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 97 worldwide

Pakistan

Region: Southern Asia
Population: 100m+ million
Healthcare system preparedness: 105 worldwide

Nepal

Region: Southern Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 111 worldwide

Bangladesh

Region: Southern Asia
Population: 100m+ million
Healthcare system preparedness: 113 worldwide

Uzbekistan

Region: Central Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 116 worldwide

Sri Lanka

Region: Southern Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 120 worldwide

Maldives

Region: Southern Asia
Population: <1 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 121 worldwide

Brunei

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: <1 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 128 worldwide

Afghanistan

Region: Southern Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 130 worldwide

Tajikistan

Region: Central Asia
Population: 1-10 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 130 worldwide

Turkmenistan

Region: Central Asia
Population: 1-10 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 135 worldwide

Timor Leste

Region: Southeastern Asia
Population: 1-10 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 166 worldwide

North Korea

Region: Eastern Asia
Population: 10-50 million
Healthcare system preparedness: 193 worldwide