In their recent Viewpoint published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, authors Jose Marco Antonio II, Stephanie Wang, Frederic Ivan L. Ting, Jeremiah R. Vallente, Edward Christopher Dee, and Erin Jay G. Feliciano examine the pressing issue of financial hardships in haemophilia care across Southeast Asian countries. The article underscores how inadequate insurance coverage, over-reliance on humanitarian aid, geographic disparities, and sociocultural dynamics exacerbate the financial and emotional strain on patients and families. Despite medical advancements, access to life-saving clotting factor concentrates remains largely out of reach for many due to prohibitive costs and uneven healthcare infrastructure.
The authors propose a holistic response grounded in the social ecological model of health, emphasising interventions across policy, community, interpersonal, and individual levels. Recommendations include expanding insurance coverage, decentralising care, improving telehealth access, and addressing stigma through public education. The article highlights the urgent need for region-specific research and action to alleviate the economic burden of haemophilia care in Southeast Asia.