Public Health and National Reconstruction in Post-War Asia

This book considers the transformation of public health systems in major East, South and Southeast Asian countries after the Second World War. It examines how public health concepts, policies, institutions and practices were improved, shows how international health standards were implemented, and explores how indigenous traditions and local social and cultural concerns affected developments, sometimes with the construction of public health systems forming an important part of nation-building in post-war and post-independence countries. Throughout, the book relates public health system developments to people’s health, demographic changes, and economic and social reconstruction projects.