Asian Region Research Articles

PENGENALAN STRUKTUR DAN SIFAT FISIK BAHAN PRODUK TANAMAN BAMBU PADA KELOMPOK TANI DESA URENG, KABUPATEN MALUKU TENGAH

Bamboo is a non-timber forest product that is abundant in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, thriving in areas with high rainfall. In Indonesia, bamboo can be found in lowland to mountainous areas, typically growing in open spaces. In Ureng Village, bamboo has yet to significantly contribute to improving the local community’s welfare. One of the main factors limiting the optimal utilization of bamboo is the lack of knowledge regarding the physical properties and characteristics of bamboo wood, which could be processed into various economically valuable products. This activity aimed to provide education on the structure and properties of bamboo wood to enhance the economic value for the Ureng Village community. The results show that participants were highly enthusiastic about learning the properties and structure of bamboo wood, which can enable them to utilize bamboo as a substitute for timber.

50th anniversary of expanded programme on immunization: Shaping the next 50 years in the WHO South-East Asia region

50th anniversary of expanded programme on immunization: Shaping the next 50 years in the WHO South-East Asia region

Peran Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) dalam Mengatasi Transnational Human Trafficking di Asia Tenggara

Introduction: ASEAN, as a regional organization in Southeast Asia, aims to maintain security and stability in the ASEAN region, including addressing human trafficking.Purposes of the Research: The purpose of this study is to analyze and understand ASEAN's role in handling Transnational Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia.Methods of the Research: This study uses a normative juridical method with primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials.Results of the Research: The research findings indicate that ASEAN has institutions such as SOMTC and ASEAN-ACT, and legal instruments such as the ASEAN Declaration Against Human Trafficking in Persons, Particularly Women and Children, APA, and ACTIP. Despite the principle of non-intervention, which can be a hindrance in some aspects of addressing human trafficking, ASEAN, through these institutions and mechanisms, has carried out its role and responsibility to maintain the stability of the Southeast Asian region

Natural assets, changes, and variations of the socioeconomic-environmental systems along the Asian drylands belt

Abstract The amount of and changes in a country's natural assets are crucial for developing national strategic plans and policies due to their foundational role in determining the resilience of social-environmental systems (SES), especially under a changing climate. Many integrated metrics on natural assets have been proposed based on individual measures to provide insights into the state of national natural resources. This is particularly true for countries experiencing extreme environmental stresses. Drawing on longitudinal data spanning from 1980 to 2020, the objective of this study is to analyze nuanced distinctions across 23 political entities (PEs) in the dryland regions of mid-latitudinal Asia, investigating their interannual variabilities over the four-decade study period and discerning potential driving forces. We examined three key integrated measures of the SES: ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE), human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP), and human appropriation of water resources (HAWR). We found increased variability as well as spikes in extreme values in each of these three measures of SES function among the 23 PEs over the study period. Water stress played an increasing and more important role than temperature in influencing the magnitude and variations of the three measures. Our results also indicate that human interventions may help increase the efficiency of water use in this dryland region of the world.

Zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in subcutaneous nodules from dogs and cats, Hong Kong SAR.

Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" is a putative Dirofilaria species, initially identified in subcutaneous nodules in humans in Hong Kong and in other South and Southeast Asian regions. While it differs genetically from the better-known zoonotic species, Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis, information on the lesions caused by Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in the hosts as well as on its biology is scarce. This study documents for the first time the presence of this filarioid nematode in subcutaneous nodules in dogs and cats in Hong Kong, where it was originally described in human patients, therefore providing evidence for the zoonotic nature of this parasite. Records of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of City University of Hong Kong were searched between 2019 and 2024 for histological reports of possible filarioid-associated lesions. Tissue samples were collected by excisional surgical biopsy and processed with routine paraffin techniques. Selected slides were stained using various staining techniques [i.e., hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) or Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) and Gram stain]. DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue were extracted, submitted to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and sequencing (i.e., cox1 and 12S rRNA genes) and phylogenetic analyzed. A total of five subcutaneous nodules from four cats and one from a dog with histopathology suggestive of filariosis were selected. The presence of Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" was morphologically and molecularly confirmed in one dog and one cat. Both histopathological presentation and phylogenetic analysis enabled classification of this species close to D.repens and within the subgenus Nochtiella. In the remaining three cases, one showed histological evidence of aberrant nematode migration, while non-parasitic causes were identified in the other two. This study provides the first evidence of Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in subcutaneous nodules in cats and dogs. The histology of clinical lesions of this filarioid species herein described is closely related to those caused by D.repens. Overall, this species should be considered in differential diagnoses of subcutaneous lesions in both animals and humans in the region.

Hypertension in Adults With Diabetes in Southeast Asia: A Systematic Review.

Diabetes is one of the most pressing health issues in the Southeast Asian region, and hypertension has been commonly reported as a comorbidity in adults with diabetes. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on theprevalence and management of hypertension in adults with diabetes in Southeast Asian countries. A literature search was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE and Embase Classic + Embase from database inception until March 15, 2024. Studies were included if (1) they were conducted in Southeast Asian countries, (2) the study populations were adults with diabetes, and (3) there was information related to hypertension or blood pressure (BP) in the study results. Of the 7486 abstracts found, 90 studies qualified for this review. Most studies reported a hypertension prevalence of 70% or higher (ranging from 29.4% to 93.4%). Despite this high prevalence, a substantial proportion of these populations did not receive adequate BP control, with most studies indicating a control rate of less than 40%. There was limited evidence on the prescription of antihypertensive therapies and medication adherence. There was a lack of studies from 4 of the 11 countries in the region. This review highlights that BP control in adults with diabetes remains a significant challenge in Southeast Asia. Given the ongoing epidemiological transition, and the increasing older population in this region who are likely to accumulate multiple chronic conditions complicating medication strategies, this review highlights the urgent need to improve BP management in those with diabetes.

The Development of Overseas Corporate Culture of Chinese Bank in the Qing Dynasty: A Case Study of Heshengyuan

The Heshengyuan (合盛元) Bank is a paradigmatic example of the Shanxi merchants (晋商) during the Qing Dynasty. Established in the early 19th century, the bank actively expands its domestic operations and takes the initiative to extend its services eastward. It establishes branches and subsidiaries in Korea and Japan, engaging in financial transactions. During its overseas expansion, the firm develops an innovative corporate culture that includes the following elements: a proactive approach to business expansion and the exploration of international financial territories; an astute awareness of customer demands, with a business strategy oriented towards market needs; and a policy of prioritizing the employment of young executives and the hiring of expatriate personnel. These culturally open and progressive corporate values facilitate Heshengyuan’s significant commercial influence within the East Asian region and bequeath a legacy of corporate ethos that serves as a valuable reference for subsequent generations.

Challenges and Opportunities for Universal Health Coverage in South Asia: A Scoping Review.

With a significant proportion of the population facing considerable deficits in access to health care and financial protection, progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) continues to be a challenge in South Asia. The objective of this scoping review is to examine the challenges and opportunities for UHC in South Asia. We used the six-stage Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework for investigation and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist to structure and report the review. A systematic search retrieved 2776 records from three databases and 13 gray literature sources, of which 27 records were reviewed. Frequently emerging challenges include underfunding of the health system, the nascent stage or inadequate coverage of the social protection or insurance system, fragmentation in the health system, the inability to effectively regulate the private sector, a health system that is unprepared to effectively address non-communicable diseases, and concerns about the quality of and equality of access to health care. While a diversity of challenges, mostly driven by the country-specific context, continue to falter progress toward UHC in the South Asia region, several consistent themes emerge. Considering this as an initial attempt to map the existing literature, we recommend future research to examine how the challenges and priorities evolve over time.

Climate change and lethal violence: a global analysis

Purpose The study aims to uncover the relationship between rising temperatures, increased greenhouse gas emissions and the prevalence of lethal violence, encompassing suicides and homicides. It also sought to identify how climate change affects different economic strata in countries, notably in high and middle-income nations, and across Asia and Africa. Design/methodology/approach This study rigorously explored the link between global climate change and lethal violence across 201 countries from 1970 to 2020. Climate change was measured using annual surface temperature fluctuations and greenhouse gas emissions, while lethal violence was estimated using data on suicides and homicides. Findings The analysis revealed significant positive associations between escalating temperatures, heightened greenhouse gas emissions and lethal violence. These connections were evident across different economic levels and geographic regions in Asia and Africa. Originality/value This study emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to combat human-induced climate change and mitigate its extensive negative impacts on society, particularly its association with increased violent behavior.

Development of a global thermal detection index to prioritize primate research with thermal drones.

Thermal Infrared (TIR) drones are emerging as effective tools for wildlife ecology monitoring and are increasingly employed in primate surveys. However, systematic methods for assessing primate detectability are lacking. We present a comprehensive approach utilizing a novel Thermal Detection Index (TDI) to evaluate the potential of TIR drones for primate monitoring. We developed TDIs for 389 primate species, considering activity patterns, locomotion types, body mass, densities, habitat utilization, and sleeping behaviors during diurnal and nocturnal surveys. Through the integration of TDIs with primates' distribution and climatic variables (average annual temperature, precipitation, and wind speed), we established a Global TDI Suitability Score aimed at pinpointing species and regions most compatible with TIR drone-based monitoring. Atelidae, Cercopithecidae, and Indridae showed the highest TDI values, suggesting their suitability for TIR-drone surveys. We identified optimal regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America for primate monitoring with TIR drones, driven by favorable ecological conditions, habitat types, and high TDI species diversity. However, local ecological factors and regulatory frameworks also influence drone survey feasibility, necessitating careful consideration prior to implementation. Overall, our study provides a valuable framework for prioritizing primate species and regions for TIR drone-based monitoring, facilitating targeted conservation efforts and advancing primate monitoring research.

Pomegranate plant tissue culture technique - a review

‌Background: The pomegranate, or Punica granatum L., is a member of the "Punicaceae" family, which also includes Punica protopunica and Punica granatum. Originating in Afghanistan and Iran, it has spread over Asia, Africa, and Europe's Mediterranean region. The traditional method of pomegranate propagation is laborious and time-consuming. It does not guarantee healthy, disease-free plants. Its shortcomings include poor success rates, extremely sluggish replication, and a one-year establishing period for new plants. Tissue culture is a technique that can be used to grow plants in all seasons without restrictions. Several pomegranate-growing nations have tried in vitro propagation to generate virus-free, similar-type plants, and it has been widely used for propagating many fruit trees. Research Purpose: The goal of this essay was to examine how to do plant tissue culture method and get familiar with the techniques. with an emphasis on the pomegranate micropropagation. The only aspect of plant tissue culture that may be able to get around these issues is in vitro technology. Therefore, there is plenty of room for employing micropropagation to multiply desired genotypes on a wide scale. Research Method: This review article was conducted based on scientific websites in Persian and English languages, including SID, Magiran, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Library Studies, Results: Pomegranate plants multiply quickly through micropropagation, producing plants (clones) that are genetically similar. In a short amount of time, a single explant can yield thousands of plants. These plants match exactly. The study provides a standardized protocol for in vitro regeneration of nodal explants, which could be useful in large-scale production of uniform and disease-free plantlets. The process of plant tissue culture reduces the need for importing expensive plant seeds.

What innovation and technology delivers to internationalization? The case of European and Central Asia regions

Purpose This study aims to analyze the impact of technology and innovation on businesses’ internationalization process as well as the relationship between innovation and technology and internationalization. Design/methodology/approach The study was based on quantitative analysis of secondary data from 30 economies in Europe and Central Asia, extracted from the Enterprise Surveys – The World Bank database, using the multivariate statistical techniques of multiple linear regression and cluster analysis. Findings The results suggest that innovation and technology (I&T) mutually and positively influence the internationalization of firms. In this sense, innovative firms are more successful in competing internationally and exposure to alternative business contexts culminates in innovation. The results suggest a positive relationship between the percentage of firms that introduced a process innovation, the percentage of firms with websites and the businesses’ internationalization. Originality/value The originality of this research is based on the methodological approach that allowed the identification of the most significant variables for stimulating the internationalization of firms based on innovation and technology. Given the predominance of economies with higher I&T and internationalization in Europe, it is proposed as future research projects to ascertain the reasons for such a phenomenon.

Mapping gaps and exploring impairment and disability prevalence in South Asian (SAARC) countries: a scoping review

Despite the considerable health and economic burden of disability in the South Asian (SA) region, there is limited evidence of impairments and disabilities prevalence and the need for Assistive Technologies (ATs). This scoping review aims to synthesise the evidence of the impairments and disabilities in SA countries. This review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. EBSCOhost, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for original research articles from SA countries. In this study, impairment and disability refer to functional limitations restricting individuals from performing activities, including visual, hearing, speaking, cognitive, mobility, and self-care difficulties. The review included full-text, English-language articles addressing any impairment and disability, without restrictions on publication date. This review identified 105 articles distributed over the six impairment and disability domains: visual, hearing, mobility, self-care, speaking, and cognitive. Most evidence originated from India (50.5%) and focused on visual impairments (53.3%). The review identified that heterogeneity in methodologies, case identification definitions, and study settings contributed to variations in prevalence estimation and restricted the comparability within and across countries. Besides, the uneven distribution of studies across countries suggests varying inclinations of countries toward specific impairment and disability domains. The review identified variations in prevalence due to differences in methodologies, definitions, and contexts. The review also identified the uneven distribution of studies, limited evidence on ATs, reliance on self-reported data, and lack of nationally representative research. Future research should use standardised case identification and evidence-based approaches to enhance comparability and minimise response biases.

Helicopter Parenting among Late Adolescents

Background: In the contemporary context, helicopter parenting which is a common practice and in Southeast Asia region, it is a growing parenting approach. It has several components that affect adolescents and emerging adults physical, psychological and social well-being. The aim of the study is to measures the parenting style for the adolescent for which the Helicopter Parenting Scale (HPS) was used. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the state of helicopter parenting style of parents on late adolescents of Police Lines School and College, Rangpur, Bangladesh. Results: The mean age of the adolescent was 17.7±0.6 years. The mean of HP scores was 3.6±0.5. About three out of five participants had a perceived average level of HP (58.9%) and a few of them had a high level of HP (2.3%). A statistically significant association found within the level of HP and adolescent’s family type (p<0.05) and the perceived level of HP was average among the adolescents who came from the nuclear family (61.8%). The HP scores were high in the nuclear family (3.62±0.413) and parents’ living together (3.59±0.422). There were significant differences found in the HP scores with the adolescent’s family type and their parent’s relationship state (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study found that nuclear families were more likely to adopt helicopter parenting than other types of families, with their perceived level of this parenting style being assessed as averagely good. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 7(1), June 2024; 26-31

Evaluation of Chickpea Production under Different Management of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilizer

Background: Chickpea is a prominent leguminous crop cultivated in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. Historically, it is planted during the spring season as a rainfed crop in the area, characterized by its unpredictable and frequently inadequate precipitation. Methods: To examine the impact of various levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and yield components of the Adel cultivar of chickpea, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm in Jolgeh Rokh District in Torbat-e Heydarieh (35.19 N, 59.45E) throughout the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. The experimental treatments included three levels of nitrogen: 30, 75 and 150 kg ha-1 as urea fertilizer. The irrigation was applied at three levels: full irrigation, one supplementary irrigation at the flowering stage and two supplementary irrigations at the flowering and pod filling stages. The studied traits included grain yield, biological yield, the number of pods per plant, and the number of seeds per pod. Result: Our results showed that different levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer had a significant effect on the number of seeds per pod, pods per plant and biological and grain yield. The interaction effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer was significant for all studied traits. In this study, the interaction between the full irrigation treatment and 75 kg N ha-1 resulted in a significant increase in all traits (except biological yield) compared to other treatments. Furthermore, one irrigation at the flowering stage with 150 kg N ha-1 caused a significant decrease in all of the studied traits. The combination of full irrigation and 150 kg N ha-1 treatment had the highest biological yield (8.9 t ha-1), while its grain yield was 1854 kg ha-1. Therefore, by maintaining moisture levels during the critical period of chickpea growth and utilizing balanced nutritional levels, particularly nitrogen at rates of 30 and 75 kg ha-1, the yield of chickpea can be increased.

Traditional Value Identity and Mental Health Correlation Among Chinese Adolescents

This study explores the identity of traditional values among Chinese adolescents and its correlation with their mental health. A questionnaire survey, utilizing the Confucian Traditional Values Scale and the Secondary School Students’ Mental Health Scale, was conducted with 500 students from Grade 7 through the final year of college. Our results showed the following: (1) adolescents generally agree with traditional values; (2) there were no significant differences in overall agreement with traditional values among adolescents based on their gender, place of birth, class cadre status, only-child status, or academic major, though differences were observed in specific dimensions based on these variables; (3) traditional values identity varied across grade levels, with senior high school students showing notably higher identification than junior high school and college students, peaking in the second year of senior high school; and (4) there is a significant negative correlation between adolescents’ traditional values identity scores and their mental health scores, indicating that higher traditional values identity scores are associated with better mental health levels. These findings highlight the positive influence of traditional values on the development and well-being of Chinese adolescents, underscoring the importance of integrating these values into educational and developmental frameworks in China and other East Asian regions with similar cultural backgrounds.

Unravelling the Factors of Acceptance of Violence in Marriage by Women: Insights on Deficit of Reporting Cases of Domestic Violence in Empowered Action Group (EAG) and States of South India

Globally, 30% women, in a relationship, have been experiencing both physical and sexual violence by their intimate partners, particularly in the South-East Asian region. The grave reality of violence in marriage is the acceptance and justification of wife beating by women themselves. Recent cross-sectional studies have pointed out that a woman’s acceptance of wife abuse is related to her actual experience of being a victim, such that the victims of violence are perhaps more likely to justify the behaviour. This study analyses the role, if any, played by measures of women’s autonomy, access and freedom in impacting the acceptance of wife beating in marriage by women. This is undertaken in the background of different levels of human development attained in different groups of states in India. Two groups of states are identified: (a) one group of states represented by states of South India—scoring above national average figures in all parameters of human development including measures of gender empowerment. (b) Second group of states represented by the Empowered Action Group states—scoring lower than national average figures in all parameters of human development, including measures of gender empowerment. Indicators selected related to women’s access to microcredit, freedom of movement, ownership of assets, employment status and literacy levels. In addition, the proportion of households in a state in the lowest quintile also was selected as a factor of wealth. This study further analyses the role that acceptance of violence in marriage by women plays in explaining the deficit in reporting cases of domestic violence in the selected group of states.

Characteristics of the Rock Paintings of Paaluu and Ikh Durulj

The region of Central Asia, especially the lands of Mongolia today, is rich with parietal art including rock paintings. Research regarding these rock paintings has been carried out to a certain extent from the second half of the 20th century, mainly from the point of view of archeology. In the study of rock paintings in Mongolia, Altai, Baga Oigor, and Tsagaan Gol rock paintings have been widely studied and exhibited on the international stage by international archaeological research teams, which can be considered to be a major contribution to the study of rock paintings of the western region. Additionally, a considerable number of studies were carried out on the rock paintings of the Gobi region of Mongolia, in Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, and Umnugobi provinces and a certain number of books and publications have been published. At the intersection of the northern end of the Gobi region and the southern edge of the Khangai mountains, Guchin Us [Lit.Tr: Thirty Waters] soum or subprovince of Ovorkhangai Province is located. The rock paintings sites by the name of Paaluu and Ikh Durulj are located 25 kilometers northwest of the Guchin Us soum center (sub-province seat). They are the main targets of our current research.

First-choice hormonal therapies for children with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome in South Asia: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Considering the peculiar challenges with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) in South Asia and a wide variation in the usage of hormonal therapies, we compared the efficacy and safety of various hormonal therapies for children with IESS in South Asia. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from the inception until April 2024. We included only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of hormonal therapies for IESS in the South Asian region. Complete cessation of epileptic spasms (ES), electro-clinical response, and time taken to be spasm-free at 2 or 6 weeks of therapy were efficacy outcomes, while the occurrence of adverse events was the safety outcome. Effect estimates were reported as odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and Cochrane risk of bias 2.0 (ROB 2.0) used for quality assessment of each study. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to rank the different therapies and reported as a p-score ranging from 0 to 1. Of 747 citations, nine RCTs comprising 566 children with IESS were included. After 2-week treatment, dexamethasone (OR: 6.72; 95% CI: 1.47, 30.72), adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy (ACTH) high dose (HD) (OR: 5.30; 95% CI: 1.05, 26.91), and prednisolone HD (OR: 2.41; 95% CI:1.07, 5.46) had shown significantly greater efficacy for cessation of EScompared with ACTH low dose (LD). Similarly, for electroclinical response, dexamethasone (OR: 9.63; 95% CI: 1.99, 46.70) and prednisolone HD (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.38, 8.68) had greater efficacy compared with ACTH LD. Safety outcomes revealed that hypertension was significantly less common with ACTH LD and prednisolone HD as compared with ACTH HD. This study provides quality evidence on preferred first-choice hormonal therapy for managing IESS in South Asia. ACTH HD, dexamethasone, and prednisolone HD are the most effective hormonal therapy options with dose-dependent therapeutic efficacy. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study provides insights into the selection of first-line hormonal therapies among the various treatments for managing infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) in South Asia. The study findings suggested that the effectiveness of these therapies is dose-dependent, with high doses of ACTH, dexamethasone, and prednisolone being the most effective for achieving cessation of epileptic spasms.

Tapentadol: navigating the complexities of abuse, patient safety & regulatory measures

Aim To evaluate tapentadol abuse cases by analyzing real-world data and identifying under-reporting countries from Southeast Asian Region (SEAR) to enhance vigilance. Method A retrospective, observational study from 2013 to March 2024 using VigiBase was conducted. Result Tapentadol-related abuse falls within the System Organ Class (SOC) categories of psychiatric disorder, nervous system disorder and injury, poisoning, and procedural complications. These are further categorized into Preferred Terms (PT) such as anxiety, delirium, Central Nervous System toxicity, depressive disorder, drug abuse, dependence/withdrawal syndrome, and overdose using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) system. Among the 11 countries in the SEAR, India is the only country to report cases of tapentadol-related abuse, no Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) related to tapentadol abuse have been submitted from other SEAR nations. Out of 127 ICSRs concerning tapentadol-related adverse events reported in India, 20 cases involved abuse. Focusing on the ICSRs submitted in India, the reported adverse reactions included anger(n = 1,10%), anxiety (n = 2, 10%), delirium (n = 1, 5%), drug abuse (n = 4, 20%), drug dependence/withdrawal syndrome (n = 7, 35%), intentional overdose (n = 2, 10%), depressive disorder (n = 1, 5%), euphoric mood (n = 1, 5%), and product misuse (n = 1, 5%) indicating a concerning pattern of substance abuse. Conclusion Stringent regulatory actions are needed to curb this practice in India, such as rescheduling tapentadol from Schedule H (Prescription drugs) to Schedule X(Narcotic drugs) in India could offer more regulatory oversight and measures to reduce risks related to abuse, addiction, and dependence while enhancing patient safety in pain management practices. Additionally, tapentadol should be closely monitored in other SEAR countries due to its potential for dependence. This study also emphasizes the importance of encouraging SEAR countries to report more Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), which would facilitate the implementation of more rigorous regulatory measures.