In many countries universal health coverage remains isolated and isolated, a luxury, the reality is that this must be the main concern of any system that is regarded as advanced and even civilized, we are talking about developed countries having to cede a place, care and priority to the health of all their citizens, regardless of their social or economic status.
The system that chooses to privatize its services has a serious social impact in the short and long term, so many lives are lost. The United States, a clear example of economic hegemony and one of the world’s leading powers, is one of the countries that offers one of the weakest health coverages: about 25% of the population cannot afford a medical appointment.
- The reality is that many families don’t have health insurance.
- As a result.
- It is impossible to receive diagnoses and treatments for mild or serious illnesses.
- In many cases.
- Breaking a leg or giving birth to a child means financial ruin.
Likewise, there is another reality that we cannot ignore: that of immigrants, these people have had to leave their country because of armed conflict or lack of opportunities in their homeland, today the lack of universal free health coverage costs lives. , especially in a pandemic context, the impact can be devastating. Let’s see more about it.
On 7 April 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) was founded, since then Health Day has been celebrated on this date, and evoking it seeks to highlight the priority sought by this famous and necessary agency. defend people’s physical and mental well-being and promote universal health coverage.
What has been achieved since the mid-1950s to the present day?Certainly, much has been achieved. Even in several countries, universal and free health systems have been consolidated; however, there are still large gaps and untapped territories on this issue, so much so that WHO itself says that around 50% of the world’s population does not have access to basic health services.
Health is not a burden, nor should it be a luxury, the truth is that health coverage is a universal right, so countries that exclude those with fewer resources or different nationalities, races or religions still have a long way to go.
In advanced countries, where universal health coverage is limited, every distributor, insurance company and hospital enforces its law, the pharmaceutical industry does not always prioritize the well-being of people or the total eradication of certain diseases, in many cases its sole purpose is to create a market, increase demand and compete.
On World Health Day, health organizations issued a strong warning, said the impact of coronavirus on countries without universal health coverage would be devastating, and is that exactly how it happened?Devastating, to say the least, collapse, imagine the fate of those whose health systems are unequal.
Few countries are technically and personally prepared to deal with the effects of a pandemic, those that have prioritized other areas for decades will no doubt suffer the consequences of neglecting their health care systems, because without good health and universal (quality) coverage we all lose.
Universal health coverage should be the cornerstone of any social system and, contrary to what some may think, this is far from an area in which the budget should be limited, nor does it make sense to set aside the priority of private health care. which is the main development mechanism, ensuring its quality and robustness is of paramount importance.
In addition, political orientation does not play a role here, what really matters is the moral, ethical and human obligation to leave no one behind, investment in health, effective technologies and resources, research and development, treatments and prevention, benefits society like everything.
More than ever, it is time to think about this fact, sanitary facilities and their workers cannot be neglected, they cannot be relegated to the background, today they are the ones who fill us with hope. Let’s learn from the past to do better in the future.