East Asia and Pacific States (the region) consists of 39 countries that include 7 countries which fall in the least developed category. The population in the region makes up around one-third of the global population, with more than 2 billion people, and it is diverse by geographical nature, from land mass of Asian mainland and the Australia continent to the small atolls in the Pacific Ocean. This article analyzes the health systems of the region in terms of basic structure and functions. Structurally, the countries can be grouped into three types: a centralized one, contractual arrangement, and market-based interactions, while some countries show a hybrid of these three systems. The functions of the health systems in East Asia and Pacific States generally mirror the underlying political, socioeconomic, and administrative systems, and the organizational patterns of the health systems, in providing health care through dispersed service variations. The article also examines the mechanism of health system financing through taxation, public and private health insurance schemes and out-of-pocket expenses. The strong positive relationship between UHC service coverage index and gross national income per capita suggests that service coverage might be driven by income growth. The development of efficient and effective health systems is a substantial investment for promoting public health that cannot be done alone by individuals. Clearly articulated policies and strategies, with strong backup of good governance, will strengthen health systems of many countries in the region.

Myanmar Tobacco Control Law of 2006 covers the control of all forms of tobacco use. After 7-year, tobacco use among adults did not see a decrease. The paper aimed to study the prevalence, details of the products, trade, legislation, tax, marketing, advertising and evidence on morbidity and mortality, and to make recommendations for policy options. Personal communications by authors and colleagues, and searches by keywords in PubMed and on Google, literature review and research from published reports, and various studies and surveys conducted in Myanmar and other countries. Smokeless tobacco use in Myanmar is the highest among ASEAN countries. A variety of SLT products used together with betel chewing poses a challenge; betel quid chewing has been accepted as a cultural norm in both rural and urban areas. Betel quid chewing usually starts at younger ages. Sale, marketing, and advertising of SLT are not under control and thus, road-side kiosks selling betel quid with SLT are mushrooming. Considerable trade of SLT products by illegal and legal means created an increase in access and availability. Low cost of SLT product enables high volume of use, even for the poor families. Taxation for raw tobacco and tobacco products is half the values of the tax for cigarettes. Effective enforcement, amendment of the law, and action for social change are needed.

About 7.6% of India's population is above 60 years old. The elderly in India face multiple social, political, economic and cultural challenges including suboptimal financial security, decline of traditional extended family systems due to rural-urban migration of young people, and increasing costs of health care. In India, as is the case in many developing countries, the health systems are inadequate to promote, support and protect health and social well-being of the elderly due in part to lack of human and financial resources. The elderly find themselves exposed to harsh realities of globalization; changes in cultural values and beliefs, high disease burden from chronic noncommunicable diseases, and weak family and social welfare system. To address the health and welfare needs of this vulnerable section of society, the Government of India in 1999 developed and adopted the National Policy for Older Persons. A National Council for Older Persons and an Inter-Ministerial Committee was set up to implement the policy directions. To date, Government of India with its partners, have introduced various schemes and initiatives to promote and protect the welfare of the elderly. These initiatives include financial assistance for the construction of and maintenance of old peoples' homes and non-institutional services to the elderly, as well as the provision of nutritious food and appropriate medical services. The Government of India, through the National Rural Health Mission has embarked on efforts to strengthen provision of primary health services and to reorient health care professionals from curative to preventive services at various levels. However, challenges remain for the health system, social welfare and health financing as the elderly population continue to rise.

A situation analysis was undertaken to assess impediments to health impact assessment (HIA) in the South-East Asia Region of WHO (SEARO). The countries of the region were assessed on the policy framework and procedures for HIA, existing infrastructure required to support HIA, the capacity for undertaking HIA, and the potential for intersectoral collaboration. The findings show that environmental impact assessment (EIA) is being used implicitly as a substitute for HIA, which is not explicitly or routinely conducted in virtually all countries of the Region. Therefore, policy, infrastructure, capacity, and intersectoral collaboration need strengthening for the routine implementation of HIA.