[ad_1]
The challenge now is to accelerate progress. This is where primary health care comes in. Most of a person's health needs, regardless of age and health status, can be met by primary health care providers. There is ample evidence that this is both fair and effective. Front-line services tend to be geographically closer to the population than hospitals, especially in remote areas. The case for primary health care is strong.
The political momentum in favor of universal health coverage is high and the renewed commitment to primary health care. In October 2018, at the Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakhstan, countries around the world agreed that the provision of quality primary health care was essential to advance universal health coverage. In September 2019, the United Nations General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting of Heads of Government on ways to accelerate progress on universal health coverage. Giving more equitable access to quality primary health care will be at the heart of the debate.
To provide quality health care, it is necessary to have a sufficient number of health workers and better access to quality drugs, especially in rural areas. As reported by a recent report from the WHO, the availability of doctors, nurses and midwives has improved. The momentum created by the Decade for Strengthening Human Resources for Health in the region must be maintained and intensified: the figures still fall short of the goal of sustainable development for health workers.
Make quality drugs available
The regulatory network for Southeast Asia, supported by WHO, is only one example of growing international cooperation aimed at enhancing the availability of quality drugs. In addition, medicine continues to be the main driver of personal spending on health care. At least 65 million people in the region are pushed into poverty because of health care costs. It is important to note that government health budgets have increased in about half of the countries in Southeast Asia – a trend that must continue to improve access and reduce personal spending.
Despite these advances, significant inequalities persist. Some 800 million people in the region still do not benefit from full coverage of essential health services. Primary care is often perceived as being for women, children and the poor, and of poor quality. It is common to get around them completely, which highlights an important problem: despite the substantial efforts of the Member States, the quality of primary care is now seen as a greater obstacle to universal health coverage than insufficient access .
There are many ways to move forward and many opportunities to accelerate progress.
Most urgently, front-line services must adapt to provide ongoing care for people with noncommunicable diseases and health problems badociated with aging. New service delivery models and qualified primary health workers are needed. This is happening in a growing number of countries. It is important to note that the provision of better care should be an integral part of these changes, not a separate program.
Use technology to empower people
Primary care and hospital services should be treated together to increase the use of front-line services and reduce overpopulation in hospitals. New approaches need to be found to better engage private practitioners and address the dual challenge of protecting people from financial abuse and poor care while exploiting the private sector's strengths.
New approaches to community engagement are needed. The rapid increase in access to information through digital technology allows people and communities to become better informed about health issues. As the Astana Declaration on Primary Health Care of last year explicitly explains, technology should be better exploited to empower people to take charge of their health.
Finally, measuring results to improve accountability must be a priority. To achieve this, it is possible to make health rights and performance information more accessible to the public. It can also mean the creation of "recourse" institutions open to all, including the most vulnerable. It is encouraging to see parliamentarians in the region engaging more and more in the search for universal health coverage.
Accelerating progress in this direction is crucial. We know we can do it. It's time to deliver. WHO is committed to helping Member States chart the course by improving equitable access to quality first-line services and helping one billion more people benefit from universal health coverage by 2024 , thus advancing the goal of sustainable development to ensure the health and well-being of people. all from here 2030.
Poonam Khetrapal Singh is WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia.
[ad_2]
Source link
