Poor Health

 65 million people in Southeast Asia are at risk of falling into poverty, as they can not access expensive basic health services.

Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, said these people needed to dig deep into their own pockets to buy drugs, especially those suffering from diseases such as heart problems and diabetes.

"Nearly half of the population in Southeast Asia have not yet gotten full access to basic health services," Poonam said.

According to Poonam, the underprivileged and rural communities have more limited access than high income and urban residents.