Editor—Bhutta et al discuss the reasons for publishing a special issue on South Asia.1 I believe that participating in global health is an extension of our responsibility as doctors to serve humanity.
Nepal's total health expenditure per capita is $66.2 It lacks adequately trained healthcare staff, infrastructure, and planning that can support the healthcare needs of a fundamentally unique and geographically distinct group of people, especially women and children. At the crux of the problem lies illiteracy and ignorance combined with a lack of vision from the top.
The BMJs focus on South Asia should be an eye opener for healthcare professionals, policy makers, and the people at large.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Bhutta Z, Nundy S, Abbasi K. Why a special issue of the BMJ on South Asia? BMJ 2003;327: 941-2. (25 October.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.World Health Organization. Nepal. www.who.int/country/npl/en/ (accessed 16 Jan 2004).