Over a quarter of the world’s population lives in the 11 countries comprising WHO’s Southeast Asia region. These countries which include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Timore Leste, also bear 28 percent of the global disease burden. The health sector is under-funded and government spending on healthcare is the lowest in this region compared to all other WHO regions. This region has the highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health. This means that the cost of health care impoverishes people and drives them further into a poverty trap. While many countries in the region have seen a boom in high quality tertiary health care, unfortunately primary health care for all remains a challenge. Governments must allocate more finances for health, and the larger portion must be invested in strengthening public health measures through primary health care for the community. Most countries in the region have successfully deployed community health workers as the catalysts for this paradigm shift. These workers are from the communities and act as agents of change for promoting healthy behaviors and reducing health inequities. For more information visit: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/09/06/time-a-paradigm-shift-health-care.html