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Women and gender
OpinionAsia Opinion
Lance Little
Lance Little

Opinion | From stigma to ignorance, why Asians don’t get the healthcare they need

  • Understanding why Asians forgo or ignore their health needs must go beyond the scientific and commercial to encompass the cultural and behavioural aspects
  • Effective patient engagement can help healthcare providers and policymakers promote preventive care, cut costs and improve outcomes

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A man receives his vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common infection that can effect the elderly more seriously, in Hong Kong on December 4. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Lance Little
Healthcare in the Asia-Pacific is facing its biggest challenge – relentless demand. According to a recent World Health Organization report, the problem of unmet need manifests in two ways: there are people who need health services but forgo care due to access barriers; there is also unrealised demand, when people are unaware of their health needs.
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Unrealised demand reveals a significant “patient engagement deficit”. Patient engagement refers to the willingness of individuals to collaborate with the healthcare ecosystem to address their needs. Without effective patient engagement, even the most advanced healthcare infrastructure falters and lives slip through the cracks.

Asia is home to more than half of the world’s population. The continent is particularly affected by infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases are rising. There is a need for effective patient engagement, as early intervention can help prevent diseases and greatly affect a person’s quality of life, productivity and life expectancy.

The patient engagement deficit is influenced by social and economic factors such as beliefs, stigmas and a lack of health literacy. The stigma of being diagnosed with certain diseases can keep people from seeking proactive or preventive care. For instance, the region accounts for 58 per cent of cervical cancer deaths worldwide. Cervical cancer is preventable so regular screening and early detection are the first lines of defence. However, many women are not getting tested.

The 2024 Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific National Women’s Health Survey found that only 22 per cent across Australia, Hong Kong, mainland China, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam feel very knowledgeable about cervical cancer. One in five said they delayed or avoided medical treatment.

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Such hesitancy is partly due to women prioritising other responsibilities like childcare, and partly rooted in the belief that undergoing such screening is shameful or embarrassing. That means social stigmas might be keeping millions of women from taking life-saving medical tests.

Some women still think that getting a potentially life-saving cervical screening is somehow shameful or embarrassing. Photo: Shutterstock
Some women still think that getting a potentially life-saving cervical screening is somehow shameful or embarrassing. Photo: Shutterstock
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