PERSONA
Healthy Lives:
Everyone, Everywhere DRIVE TOWARDS GLOBAL HEALTH
NEWSCOPE
RESEARCH
ISSUES
WELL-BEING
TRENDS
THEME
Written by DR.
JASMEET KAUR
Good health is the most precious thing anyone can have,” says Dr TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “When people are healthy, they can learn, work, and support themselves and their families. When they are sick, nothing else matters. Families and communities fall behind. That’s why WHO is so committed to ensuring good health for all.” WORLD HEALTH DAY April 7th marks the birth anniversary of World Health Organisation (WHO) and along with drives a worldwide attention by spreading the message of importance of global health each year. Ranging from imperative issues such as food safety, diabetes, depressions, etc., this year the World Health Day embarks the mission of people-centred care irrespective of their financial hardships. The 2019 theme envisions the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), i.e., health for all. There are millions of people who have no access at all to healthcare. Majority of the populations are forced to choose between healthcare and other daily needs such as food, clothing and shelter. In India, lot of efforts need to be put in to ensure adequate medicines, affordable health policies, and financing strategies to enable everyone to get access to equal healthcare. “Universal” in UHC means “for all”, without discrimination, leaving no one behind, i.e. providing healthcare facilities which are • Accessible • Affordable • Available • Appropriate • Adequate
ADDRESSING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS “Universal health coverage is also about ensuring access to essential quality care and financial protection,” says Dr Mahjour. It aids in enhancing people’s health at large and increasing their life expectancy. Under this, many countries are protected from epidemics and the risk of hunger. This paves a way for new jobs, enhanced economic growth and gender equality. To make the phenomenon of Universal health coverage achievable globally, there should be concrete roadmaps which highlight the gaps and obstacles patients face in accessing proper
healthcare. This can be done only when there are identified challenges, key actions and sustainable goals to be taken care of. • There must be a holistic range of health and related services • Quality care is a must • There must be an end to discrimination and stigma • The healthcare products and services should be affordable • Sustainable investment in health is another prerequisite
