South-East Asia (i.e. Indonesia) has enjoyed economic boom and rapid unbridled growth for the last decade. This rapid expansion was fuelled by cheap labour, foreign and local investments and the extensive development of the oil and non-oil sector. Dark clouds, however, loomed on the economic and financial horizons of these rapidly developing 'tiger' economies. Indonesia was not only affected by various facts-of-life elements which contributed to these grave forecasts but also by a wave of natural disasters on an unprecedented scale, with devastating social and economic effects on the poor and susceptible groups. Although economic recovery will take time, the most pressing and practical measure remains the need to create a health and social safety net to maintain the health, social and nutritional status of the "population-at-risk". This paper is an exposure of "lessons learnt" and the invaluable role of health services and public health to the negative impact of the monetary crisis experienced by various inter-sectors, which the authors believe can be used as a long-term investment measure in other countries.