Affiliations 

  • 1 University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, (Western), Footscray, Melbourne 3011, Australia; Rheumatology Unit, Division of Medicine, Western Health, Melbourne 3011, Australia; Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Science, St Albans, Melbourne 3021, Australia. Electronic address: keithlim@mac.com
  • 2 Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore
  • 3 University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
  • 4 BSM Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 5 Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol, 2016 06;30(3):398-419.
PMID: 27886939 DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2016.08.007

Abstract

This chapter discusses the challenges faced in the development and implementation of musculoskeletal (MSK) Models of Care (MoCs) in middle-income and low-income countries in Asia and outlines the components of an effective MoC for MSK conditions. Case studies of four such countries (The Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar) are presented, and their unique implementation issues are discussed. The success experienced in one high-income country (Singapore) is also described as a comparison. The Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) project and the role of Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR), a professional body supporting MoC initiatives in this region, are also discussed. The experience and lessons learned from these case studies can provide useful information to guide the implementation of future MSK MoC initiatives in other middle-income and low-income countries.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.