Text box 1. Contributions to the literature
• A multitude of political, economic, moral, legal, epidemiological and bureaucratic factors is hindering the progress towards UHC within the ASEAN region. These issues are complex and often intertwined; therefore, they should be addressed by harmonising governmental efforts and national policies.
• There is untapped potential in exploring innovative financing schemes to narrow health and wealth inequality gaps. Investing in digital health technologies and developing research capacity for strategies to tackle ageing populations and transiting demographics should be considered. A list of potential recommendations for policymakers is provided in this paper.