WEALTH

FOCUS
It is all happening so quickly. Three generations ago,
Asians tended to die early of infections or parasites
such as malaria or tuberculosis, in childbirth, or – at
high rates – in early childhood. Today, they are increasingly
living to a ripe old age and dying from heart disease,
diabetes, chronic respiratory problems or cancer – all long
considered rich-world problems.
This should come as no surprise, says Eduardo Banzon,
senior health specialist with the Asian Development Bank.
“These diseases are associated with increased prosperity
and longevity. As Asia is becoming richer, the health
patterns of Western countries are being repeated here.”
It is a demographic truism that as countries develop
and become wealthier, they urbanize, and as they urbanize
people live longer and fertility rates fall. When the number
of elderly increases relative to the young, diseases linked
to insufficient nutrition and infection give way to the
degenerative problems of old age.
This is what is happening in Asia. After decades of
economic development and improving healthcare, deaths
from communicable diseases (infectious diseases
transmitted by direct contact) and maternal and prenatal
conditions in the countries to the right of Pakistan on a
Mercator map have fallen, while those caused by noncommunicable
diseases (NCDs) have risen sharply.
This is known as epidemiological transition, and Asia’s
direction is clearly seen in data from the World Health
Organization. Only one-fifth of all deaths in Asia and the
Western Pacific region are now caused by infectious
CAUSES OF DEATH IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, PROJECTED TO 2030
As mortality rates from communicable diseases decrease, owing to economic
development and better healthcare, rates for non-communicable diseases increase
Female
Male
100% 100%
90% 90%
% of deaths in Asia-Pacific region
80% 80%
70% 70%
60% 60%
50% 50%
40% 40%
30% 30%
20% 20%
10% 10%
% of deaths in Asia-Pacific region
0% 0%
2000 2012 2015 2030 2000 2012 2015 2030
Communicable Non-communicable Injuries
8 • Allianz
Founded
in 1982,
the vast
market spans
over four million
square meters and
employs over 200,000
people