Epidemiological transition in Asian countries and related health policy issues

The transition in morbidity and mortality from largely communicable diseases to largely non-communicable diseases has been effected in many Asian countries, particularly those which are newly-industrializing. Consequently, significant changes in national health policies have been made to cope with new problems such as the increasing numbers of old people, occupational diseases, accidents and cancer. AIDS, hepatitis B and the "tropical diseases" should, however, remind un that communicable diseases are still very important in Asian countries.