Critical care in East Asia. Little dragons and sleeping giants.

Southeast Asia is the world's region of most rapid economic growth. The countries in the region vary widely in annual per capita income and health expenditure. In the less wealthy countries, intensive care must compete for resources with basic public health programs and primary care, limiting public sector resources. In the wealthier countries and private hospitals in the region, intensive care units are well established but the organizational structure is still evolving, and there are few full-time intensivists. Most countries now have a Society of Intensive or Critical Care Medicine. Specialist training and examination systems for Intensive Care are established in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines.