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South Asian health: what is to be done?

Editor—Although many factors are responsible for the sorry state of health in South Asia, one major issue could be considered the most important in improving health care. 
 
Every person, big or small, in the region must have a change in their attitudes and thinking and must realise that egalitarianism should be the guiding principle in health care. Although major advances in medicine bring much relief to patients, they are immensely costly and are not affordable to us in South Asia. Hence we must give up the concepts of “centres of excellence” and “state of the art facilities” in caring for patients. 
 
Politicians, policy makers, and programme designers must remember at all times that their aim should be to give reasonable health care to all and not the best care seen in the West to a handful of rich people. Priority should be given to the development of technologies and protocols that are of proved or potential value in resource poor settings. 
 
If we practised this form of egalitarianism the resources we have would be quite adequate to provide reasonable health care to all South Asians across the board. Until we realise this, improving health care in South Asia will be a pipe dream.