A new systematic review in The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific brings alarming data to light: 78 percent of Asia-Pacific health system settings lack reliable access to cardiovascular diagnostic tools, while 42 percent operate without systematic quality monitoring systems. These figures underscore a profound disconnect between the burden of cardiovascular disease in the region and the infrastructure available to address it.
Additional findings show medication availability at 72 percent and access to specialist services at just 65 percent across diverse health contexts. The review’s authors stress that these gaps disproportionately affect resource-limited settings and vulnerable populations. Without urgent investment in diagnostic capacity, quality assurance frameworks, and equitable access strategies, cardiovascular mortality in Asia-Pacific will continue to rise.
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