COVID-19 response in South-East Asia: promoting healthcare quality through political engagement

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, led to a pandemic that affected every region of the world. The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region (SEARO) is composed of 11 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Each of these countries faced different challenges in tackling COVID-19 depending upon their resources and health system. However, in general it was evidenced that no country was prepared to handle such a pandemic. Two strategies were adopted globally: closing the international borders and restricting movement within countries. These measures were adopted throughout the SEARO.