For this issue, we are excited to present the special issue, “Biogeopolitics of Health Insurance in East and Southeast Asia.” Health policy in Asia is a topic EASTS has explored in previous issues. We published a special issue on “Biopolitics in China” (Volume 5, Issue 3, 2011), and the relevance of public health has only increased in the COVID-19 era, as reflected in several articles analyzing government responses to the pandemic. Within this ongoing discourse, health insurance has emerged as a key focal point, revealing the financial mechanisms behind the medical practice and sparking debates over the governance of the body—issues frequently discussed worldwide and gaining particular attention during this election year.
The special issue introduces a geopolitical dimension, featuring three research articles, two commentaries, and one research note that explore health insurance systems across East and Southeast Asia. For a more in-depth discussion, readers can refer to the introduction by guest editors Wayne Soon and Mohammad Khamsya Bin Khidzer.
