1st Edition
Health Rights of Older People Comparative Perspectives in Southeast Asia
The book examines the health rights of older persons who are more likely potentially to face various disadvantages in terms of healthcare access and affordability, thereby impacting on health outcomes. The point of departure in the analyses is that the health security of older persons is guaranteed only if a country approaches the health of its citizens out of moral obligation, viewing health and well-being as a right rather than an entitlement. Data from five countries in the ASEAN region are analysed with the intent of highlighting the health inequalities and barriers at the societal and individual levels, on the one hand, as well as the gaps at the health and healthcare policy and programmatic levels within each country, on the other. It is also intended that the analyses of the data from the selected countries which represent different stages of development, and thus income levels, provide a useful comparative framework for policymakers in the ASEAN region.
1. Ageing and Health in Southeast Asia (Theresa W. Devasahayam and Long Thanh Giang) 2. Singapore (Theresa W. Devasahayam) 3. Malaysia (How Kee Ling, Zamri Hassan, Faizah Mas’ud, and Sidiah John Siop) 4. Thailand (Chalermpol Chamchan, Rossarin Gray, and Kusol Soonthorndhada) 5. Vietnam (Long Thanh Giang, Phong Manh Phi, and Tham Hong Thi Pham) 6. Myanmar (Hein Thet Ssoe, S. Irudaya Rajan, and Sreerupa) 7. Policy Options for Protecting Health Rights of Older People (Long Thanh Giang and Theresa W. Devasahayam) 8. Conclusions (Theresa W. Devasahayam and Long Thanh Giang)
Biography
Long Thanh Giang is Associate Professor of National Economics University, Hanoi, Senior Researcher at Institute of Social and Medical Studies (ISMS), Hanoi, and Affiliate Research Fellow of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford. His research interests include the economics of ageing and health protection for older people. He got a PhD from National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo.
Theresa W. Devasahayam is Associate Lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). She has provided technical expertise to various projects for United Nations’ agencies and the Asian Development Bank. She has a PhD in Anthropology with a concentration in feminist studies from Syracuse University, New York, U.S.A.
'This volume is a welcome contribution highlighting health inequalities in Southeast Asia and the associated barriers underlying them at the societal and individual level. Its unique focus is on health security and rights of older persons. The analyses reveal gaps in policy and programs within each country. The different development stages and income levels of the selected countries provide a useful context for comparative analysis. This is facilitated by a common analytical framework and set of questions that are applied to successful and not-so-successful international experiences. Policy practitioners and researchers alike will gain much from this book.' — John Knodel, Professor Emeritus, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, USA
'Health Rights of Older People is a timely and convincing appeal for a new health rights paradigm for older people. The authors systematically explain why all societies, regardless of their degree of population ageing, need to shift from the traditional social welfare approach to a rights-based approach, by focusing on meeting each individual’s justifiable desire for health and well-being in their later years. By using a common methodology and analytical framework built upon the health rights paradigm, the five ASEAN nation case studies in the book compellingly demonstrate the importance of evidence-based and demand-driven policymaking in achieving improved health policy outcomes. Indeed, Health Rights of Older People successfully translates older persons’ voices into a clear path forward for policy action.' — Mika Marumoto, PhD, Executive Director, Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD)
'ASEAN countries cannot adapt to rapidly ageing populations with the approaches of the twentieth century. They need, especially in the health sector, new systems and tools to be appropriate for the rapidly changing demographic configuration. This book is an important contribution to well-informed policy making, in the scope of a timeless commitment to the rights of access to healthcare.' — Eduardo Klein, Asia and Pacific Regional Representative, HelpAge International (HAI)
'This study focuses on five ASEAN countries – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar – a group ranging from very wealthy to much poorer countries. While it usefully covers trends in population ageing and in the health status of these populations, its major contribution is in its focus on the health security and rights of older persons. It does this not only by discussing the health policy of these countries (emphasizing the need for such policies to move from a social welfare to a rights-based approach), but also by directly interviewing older persons to gain an understanding of health security from their point of view. This enables a much richer understanding of health rights issues for different sub-groups of older persons in these countries. Usefully, country-specific and ASEAN-wide policy options are offered in the penultimate chapter.' — Gavin Jones, Emeritus Professor, Australian National University
'The book contains a well-developed and systematic presentation of the study findings based on specific themes. The graphical presentations of findings in the book makes it readable, easy to fol-low, and interpretable. Overall, the book is a good source to understand current efforts, policy gaps and options in addressing health rights and related issues for older persons in the ASEAN region.' — Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health 2018, Vol. 30(8) 750 –750
