ASIATODAY.ID, WASHINGTON — The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region stands at a critical crossroads. A surge in chronic, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is increasingly threatening the resilience of health systems while undermining productivity, income growth, and the region’s hard-won economic momentum.
This warning is underscored in the World Bank’s latest report, A Healthy Future: Primary Health Care and the Chronic Disease Epidemic in EAP, which argues that urgent reforms in primary health care (PHC) are essential—not only to address mounting health challenges, but also to safeguard long-term economic prosperity.
The economic case is compelling. Every US$1 invested in strengthening PHC can generate up to US$16 in economic returns, driven by better population health, higher labor productivity, and job creation.
“Strong primary health care systems do more than protect well-being. Healthier people learn more, work more productively, and save and invest more—outcomes that expand opportunity, build human capital, create jobs, and drive inclusive growth,” said Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific on January 21, 2026.
Over the past three decades, EAP countries have achieved remarkable health gains. Under-five mortality has fallen sharply from 57 to 15 deaths per 1,000 live births, while life expectancy has increased from 68 to 77 years.
Yet these gains mask a growing challenge: people are living longer but spending nearly a decade of their lives in poor health.
Rapid population ageing, fast urbanization, and unhealthy lifestyles have fueled a sharp rise in NCDs—such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer—particularly among people in their most productive working years. The result is a direct drag on productivity and a steep rise in health-care costs.
The World Bank stresses that prevention must be the first line of defense. PHC services—including screening, early detection, and timely treatment—are critical to preventing and managing NCDs and keeping people out of hospitals.
However, in many EAP countries, health systems remain heavily oriented toward treatment rather than prevention.
Low public awareness of NCD risks and perceptions of inadequate PHC services have led many households to delay care or bypass primary care altogether in favor of hospitals, contributing to the underuse of preventive services and inefficient health spending.
“Stronger primary health care is essential for sustained economic growth in East Asia and the Pacific,” said Aaditya Mattoo, Chief Economist for EAP at the World Bank.
“By investing in prevention, embracing innovation, and strengthening community-level health services, countries in the region can unlock new economic opportunities while improving quality of life.”
The report emphasizes that reforms must be tailored to each country’s fiscal capacity, technical readiness, and political context. It outlines four priority actions: equipping PHC providers with the infrastructure, tools, and skills to manage chronic diseases; improving quality of care through performance monitoring and incentives; making PHC affordable—or free—for low-income populations; and encouraging healthier lifestyles through information, behavioral nudges, and incentives to seek preventive care.
The World Bank concludes that the policy choices made today will shape the region’s future. Without stronger primary health care systems, East Asia and the Pacific risk losing the economic momentum built over decades of growth. (AT Network)
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