Transcript Issues in Global Health

Issues in Global
Health
Minority Women in Medicine
October 25, 2006
Global Health Challenges:
some statistics…
 1 Billion people lack access to health
care systems
 Around 11 million children under age 5
die from malnutrition and mostly
preventable diseases each year
 In 2002, almost 11 million people died of
infectious diseases alone
Global Health Challenges:
some statistics…
 AIDS/HIV has spread rapidly. UNAIDS
estimates for 2005 that there were
roughly:
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40 million living with HIV (most in Africa,
25.8 million)
4.9 million new HIV infections (mostly in
Africa, 3.2 million)
3.1 million AIDS-related deaths, (mostly in
Africa, 2.4 million)
Global Health Challenges:
some statistics…
 There are 8.8 million new cases and
1.75 million deaths from TB each year
 Malaria causes more than 300 million
acute illnesses and at least 1 million
deaths, annually
 More than 500,000 people, mostly
children, died from measles in 2003EVEN though effective immunization
costs just $30 US per person, and has
been available for 40 years
Global Health Challenges:
Beyond AIDS/HIV…
 AIDS/HIV is a terrible disease, but there are
conditions beyond it that are even more
debilitating, and not as well known
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Kwashiorkor: a form of malnutrition caused by
inadequate protein intake
Infectious Diseases: many already have vaccines
that are not available to developing nations
 Malaria
 TB
 STDs
Global Health Challenges:
Infectious Disease
 Despite medical advances, infectious diseases
still occupy most of the top ten causes of death
worldwide
 More than 90% of the deaths from infectious
disease are caused by only a few culprits:
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Lower respiratory infections
HIV/AIDS
Diarrhea
TB
Malaria
Measles
Global Health Challenges:
Infectious Disease
 “Neglected” Infectious Diseases:
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Trachoma – contagious disease of the eye;
leading cause of blindness in Asia/Africa
Intestinal parasites
Leprosy – still afflicts 3 million worldwide
Dengue
Yellow fever
Many, many more…
Global Health Challenges:
Infectious Diseases
Global Health Challenges:
Infectious Diseases
 WHY?
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Biological, Social and Economic factors:
 Evolving human migration patterns
 Antibiotic resistance
 Cultural stigmas  especially in relation to the
spread of STDs
 Poverty
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Poor nutrition  compromised immune systems
Overcrowded living conditions  more vulnerable
to communicable diseases
Limited access to healthcare/drugs
Global Health Challenges:
Infectious Disease
Top Ten Deadly Diseases of
the Developing World
Ten Leading Causes of Death
in the US, 2003
Rank
Cause
1
2
3
4
Heart Disease
Malignant Neoplasms (cancer)
Cerbrovascular Disease
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
5
6
7
Unintentional Injuries
Diabetes Mellitus
Influenza and pneumonia
8
9
10
Alzheimer’s Disease
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis
Septicemia
Source: US National Center for Health Statistics, Health, United States, 2005.
Global Healthcare Issues…
Universal Health Care
 1 BILLION people lack access to health care….
 All residents of a geographic/political entity
have their health care paid for by the
government – regardless of medical condition
or financial status
Universal Health Care
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Nations with universal health
care:
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Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Cuba
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Japan
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The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
China
United Kingdom
Universal Health Care:
Support
 Health care is a right/entitlement.
 Ensuring the health of all citizens
benefits a nation economically.
 Health care increasingly unaffordable for
businesses and individuals.
 Reduces wastefulness and inefficiencies
in the delivery of health care.
Universal Health Care:
Support
 Reduces the severity of epidemics by reducing
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the number of disease carriers
Aligns incentives for investment in long term
health care productivity, preventive care, and
better management of chronic conditions
A centralized national database makes
diagnosis and treatment easier for doctors.
Medical professionals can concentrate on
treating patients rather than on administrative
duties
Profit motive adversely affects the cost and
quality of health care.
Universal Health Care:
Opposition
 Increased waiting times
 Poorer quality of care, as opposed to
private healthcare
 Unequal access and health disparities
still exist
 Government agencies are less efficient
due to bureaucracy
 Must be funded with higher
taxes/spending cuts in other areas.
Universal Health Care:
Opposition
 Profit motives, competition, and individual
ingenuity lead to greater cost control and
effectiveness
 Uninsured citizens can still receive emergency
care from alternative sources such as nonprofits and government-run hospitals
 Government mandated procedures reduce
doctor flexibility
 Causes loss of insurance industry jobs and
other business closures in the private sector
Interesting Articles…
 A Lesson from Europe on Health Care
 Hospitals Try Free Basic Care for
Uninsured
Global Health Volunteering
Opportunities
 International Volunteer Program Association:
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http://www.volunteerinternational.org
 Volunteer Abroad:
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http://www.volunteerabroad.com/search.cfm
 Institute of International Education:
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http://www.iiepassport.org
 Doctors Without Borders:
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http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Websites to Check Out…
 World Health Organization
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http://www.who.int
 Global Health Council
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http://www.globalhealth.org
 Global Health: US Department of Health
and Human Services
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http://www.globalhealth.gov
 USAID
 http://www.usaid.gov