Health & Education

Brunei Darussalam’s universal health care system has helped it meet most of the health care targets set out in the UN Millennium Development Goals by the World Health Organisation. The country has the second-highest life expectancy rate among ASEAN countries. Non-communicable diseases like cancer are now the biggest concerns and, as the price of health care rises, the Sultanate is in the process of balancing the rising cost of care provision while maintaining the quality of its services. Moves toward extending its activities to pharmaceuticals production and health tourism in tertiary cardiac care, cancer and rehabilitation facilities bode well for the sector. One of the key objectives of Brunei Darussalam’s vision for development, Wawasan Brunei 2035, is for its people to be educated and highly skilled. The system is designed to meet the challenges of an ever-changing, competitive and knowledge-based global economy, as well as encouraging lifelong learning and achievement in sport and the arts. This chapter contains interviews with David Willetts, UK Minister for Universities and Science; and Pehin Dato Abu Bakar Apong, Minister of Education.