The last time taxpayers were asked to bail out poorly regulated banks was during the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-99- East Asian governments were persuaded to close financial institutions, negotiate repayment to western banks, and cut government spending.Our analysis of the Asian crisis in Indonesia showedthatthe Indonesian government disproportionately cut health spending compared with other economic sectors. Primary health care wa's cut by 25%. Not surprisingly, a fall in access to basic health care followed. Childhood immunisation coverage rates fell by 25%; the use of services such as clinics and health centres fell between 26% and 47%. After decades of steady improvement in life expectancy, infant mortality increased in 22 of 26 provinces by an average of 14% between 1996 and 1999.
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