Asia needs to step up spending on healthcare 'sharply': OECD

Tokyo

COUNTRIES in the Asia-Pacific region are not spending nearly enough on healthcare to keep pace with the needs of their fast-ageing populations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned in a report.

They need to strengthen health systems and sharply increase spending in order to deliver effective universal coverage necessary to meet the changing needs of fast ageing populations, said the report by the Paris-based OECD.

"Asian economies spend just over US$930 per person per year on health, against US$3,618 in (more…