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