Why has so little changed in maternal and child health in south Asia?

Despite south Asia's nuclear capability and technological skills, indicators of maternal and child health rank among the worst in the world The health of mothers and children is intertwined with the poor status of women in society and with economic inequity Few research programmes are aimed at understanding and tackling the basic determinants of health, and there is little applied research Funds available for health care and health related research are limited and subject to structural adjustments dictated by international financial institutions In future, research projects and intervention programmes should involve national groups and be based on evidence not political expediency.