Public spending on health (1.7% of GDP) was average compared to Asian countries, but significantly below the average for all LMICs (2.6% average). Other social protection spending (cash transfers, pensions and allowances) amounted to 3.0% of GDP, which is much lower than other Asian countries (4.8% average) and LMICs globally (7.6% average). Social assistance programmes tend to cover extensively targeted groups while social insurance coverage is low.