Editor—The BMJ deserves credit for providing the spark necessary to activate the medical community of the South Asian countries, with their limited resources, unstable governments, and uncommitted politicians pitching in with solutions for public health problems.
Amalgamation of South Asia's medical community will ensure benefits to all its constituents. Strength will flow from unity of purpose focused on achievable targets with a structured and pragmatic plan of realistic objectives. The impossible can be made possible.
There is a wealth of talent and experience in the South Asian countries in traditional and complementary systems of medicine, which have great potential for providing relief to millions of people at minimal or no cost to the exchequer.
Ayurveda, the unani system, homoeopathy, herbal medicine, yoga, and meditation are powerful modalities for providing some remedies to the poor and ailing population of South Asia. Education is the bedrock on which all health practices are based. Knowledge of cleanliness, sanitation, clean potable water, and basic amenities for primary health in every village is an admirable beginning.
The public and private sectors have distinctive roles. There must be harmony, cooperation, discipline, and monitoring to ensure optimal use of resources. This needs to be orchestrated by the government agencies designated to run a country's health programmes.
Competing interests: None declared.