English abstract
THE HEALTH STATUS AND LIVING
conditions in emerging economies, some times called developing countries, have
changed considerably because of the rapid growth of
the biomedical healthcare infrastructure and accul turation and globalization. Despite this, the previous
emphasis that focuses on biological sciences alone in
the prevention of and intervention in matters related
to disease has not borne the expected results. "Health
for All by the Year 2000"2 has proven to be an unat tainable aspiration. Whilst smallpox appeared to have
been eradicated from all corners of the world, many
communicable diseases remain endemic and multiple antibiotic resistance has become a major public health
issue.3
In the midst of proliferating infectious diseas es, there is also the 'silent epidemic' of non-commu nicable diseases, often precipitated and exacerbated
by an individual's behaviour and life style. There are
a range of disorders that are often collectively referred
to as "stress-induced" illnesses, which seem to stem
from the way people respond to adverse environmen tal factors.4
There are also aspects of human behaviour
such as smoking and reckless driving, which can result
in serious distress and often fatal diseases.
