The Importance of Access to Health Care
The importance of access to health care services in society determines the standards and state of health within a population. Health disparities is a big issue in the United States and is defined as inequality of the care that a person or community get due to certain factors. Some believe that these factors are just racial related but there are many more factors that are considered. Disparities in health do not refer only to ethnic and racial disparities, but rather the general health situation in the community. Access to health care services determines the disparities that exist in society, and this affects all ethnic and racial groups in the country.
The Importance of Health Care
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A Disparity
The disparity is determined by the extent of health outcomes within a population, meaning that all factors around an individual including their environment, age and even socioeconomic status will play a key role in determining their health (HealthyPeople2020, 2014). According to Obama Facts, in the course of 5 years, more than one hundred thousand Americans died in the United States because of lack of access to health care services (Facts on Deaths Due to Lack of Health Insurance in US). Unfortunately, this number also includes infants and children that are affected as well by the lack of healthcare due to disparities. In the following essay, it will be further discussed why some children face barriers to accessing health care services because of different factors and the policy that has been established to help with this issue.
Barriers for Children
There are many factors that can influence whether a child receives healthcare or not. One of the first mentioned factors is the geographic location. If the parent or guardians of that child have no means to get to a medical facility, then how are they supposed to get the needed care? A second factor that is taken into consideration is the financial aspect especially those that are considered poor. “The opportunity cost of seeking health care is likewise relatively higher for poorer than wealthier households. This is because the poor often earn income directly from their labor. Caring for sick children may divert the labor and time of poor parents away from income-generating activities, thereby reducing household income” (BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO CHILD HEALTH CARE). Culture plays a big role as well when it comes to somebody receiving healthcare. If that child’s religion or culture have traditions that prevent them from receiving healthcare, then this is something the child has no control over. A big challenge that healthcare professionals face is the patient’s lack of knowledge and importance of bringing one’s child for checkups and/or when to bring them in to get seen for an acute visit. Approximately 70 percent of child deaths is down to delays in delivering health care services, and this means that caregivers have to be familiar with specific health institutions where they know they will get good service (BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO CHILD HEALTH CARE).
When they are brought in but don’t have the finances to pay for the services, the quality of care lowers. Inequality of care in not something that is rare in the healthcare system. A child with an expensive healthcare insurance will receive high quality care compared to the child that came through the emergency room and has no type of coverage. Healthy People 2020 have chosen Health Disparities as one of their overarching goals and are working to end this in the world. The objective of ‘Healthy People 2000’ was to reduce health disparities among Americans. The focus of this group was not just the reduction of health disparities that exist in the community, but achieving health equity for all the relevant groups in society to guarantee equal access to health services (HealthyPeople2020, 2014).
Children’s Health Insurance Program
There are families that are financially unable to pay for healthcare insurance and are covered under Medicaid benefits. Although this is fortunate, there are the middle-class families that just make a little more about the cut off to be considered under Medicaid. In 1997, Children’s Health Insurance program was developed and establish to help these families with children so they could be covered and receive care. The two programs have helped reduce the uninsured rate among children and, from 1997 after the enactment of CHIP, to 2012, the uninsured rate among children dropped from 14 percent to 7 percent. Several millions of children accessed health insurance covers, and this new low in the number of uninsured children was a positive breakthrough in getting more children access to health services. The group of children specifically targeted were those below the federal poverty level, and the general uninsured rate during this period would drop from 25 percent to15 percent. (Paradise, 2014). This program has greatly reduced the percentage of children that go without receiving care because poor children continue to suffer as cost-effective child health interventions fail to reach them.
Bibliography
BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO CHILD HEALTH CARE. (n.d.). Retrieved from CHALLENGES FOR CHILD HEALTH IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION: https://monkessays.com/write-my-essay/wpro.who.int/publications/docs/ReachingthePoor_ChildHealthandPoverty_Part2.pdf
Facts on Deaths Due to Lack of Health Insurance in US. (n.d.). Retrieved from ObamaCare Facts: http://obamacarefacts.com/facts-on-deaths-due-to-lack-of-health-insurance-in-us/
HealthyPeople2020. (2014). Disparities. Retrieved from ODPHP: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Disparities
Paradise, J. (2014, July 14). The Impact of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): What Does the Research Tell Us? Retrieved from The Kaiser: http://kff.org/report-section/the-impact-of-the-childrens-health-insurance-program-chip-issue-brief/
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The Importance of Access to Health Care
Access to health care is a fundamental human right that can improve the health and well-being of individuals and populations. However, many people around the world face barriers to accessing quality health care services, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. This blog post will explore the importance of access to health care, the challenges and opportunities for improving it, and some examples of successful initiatives that have expanded access and improved quality of care.
What is access to health care?
Access to health care can be defined as “the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best possible health outcomes” (Institute of Medicine). It involves three dimensions: availability, affordability and acceptability. Availability refers to the supply and distribution of health care providers, facilities and resources that meet the needs and preferences of the population. Affordability refers to the ability of individuals and households to pay for health care services without experiencing financial hardship. Acceptability refers to the match between the expectations and values of the population and the characteristics and quality of health care services.
Why is access to health care important?
Access to health care is important for several reasons. First, it can improve health outcomes by preventing diseases, promoting healthy behaviors, providing early diagnosis and treatment, managing chronic conditions, and reducing complications and mortality. For example, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), increasing access to immunization can prevent 2-3 million deaths per year from vaccine-preventable diseases. Similarly, increasing access to antenatal care can reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by providing essential interventions such as screening, counseling, nutrition, infection prevention and treatment.
Second, access to health care can reduce health inequalities by ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy good health regardless of their social, economic or geographic status. For example, according to the WHO, universal health coverage (UHC) can reduce poverty and social exclusion by providing financial protection and access to essential health services for all people. UHC can also promote social cohesion and human rights by fostering solidarity and respect among different groups.
Third, access to health care can contribute to economic development and social welfare by enhancing productivity, education, innovation and growth. For example, according to the World Bank, investing in health can generate returns of up to 9 times in low- and middle-income countries by increasing labor force participation, reducing absenteeism, improving learning outcomes, stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation, and creating jobs.
What are the challenges and opportunities for improving access to health care?
Improving access to health care is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires addressing various factors at different levels of the health system and beyond. Some of the common challenges include:
– Shortage and maldistribution of health workers, especially in rural and remote areas
– Inadequate infrastructure, equipment and supplies, especially for primary health care
– High out-of-pocket payments and lack of financial protection for health care users
– Low quality and safety of health care services, especially for marginalized groups
– Lack of awareness, information and trust among health care users
– Cultural, linguistic and geographic barriers to accessing health care services
– Political instability, conflict and violence that disrupt health service delivery
To overcome these challenges, some of the potential opportunities include:
– Strengthening primary health care as the cornerstone of UHC
– Investing in human resources for health through education, training, retention and motivation
– Leveraging digital technologies such as telemedicine, mobile health and artificial intelligence
– Implementing innovative financing mechanisms such as taxes, insurance, subsidies and vouchers
– Improving governance, accountability and transparency of health systems
– Engaging communities and civil society in co-designing and co-delivering health services
– Promoting multisectoral collaboration and partnerships among different actors
What are some examples of successful initiatives that have improved access to health care?
There are many examples of successful initiatives that have improved access to health care in different contexts and settings. Here are some illustrative examples:
– In Rwanda, a community-based health insurance scheme has increased coverage from 7% in 2003 to 91% in 2010, reducing out-of-pocket payments and improving utilization of maternal and child health services (Lu et al.)
– In India, a mobile eye clinic has provided free eye examinations and glasses to over 100,000 school children in rural areas, improving their vision and academic performance (Dandona et al.)
– In Kenya, a social enterprise called Jacaranda Health has established a network of low-cost maternity clinics that offer high-quality antenatal, delivery and postnatal care to low-income women, achieving better outcomes than public facilities (Hatt et al.)
– In Brazil, a family health program has deployed multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, community health workers and dentists to provide comprehensive primary health care to over 100 million people, reducing hospitalizations and mortality from chronic diseases (Macinko et al.)
Conclusion
Access to health care is a vital component of human development and well-being. It can improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and foster economic and social progress. However, many people still face barriers to accessing quality health care services, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. To improve access to health care, it is essential to address the multiple dimensions and determinants of access, and to adopt a holistic, people-centered and equity-oriented approach. There are many examples of successful initiatives that have improved access to health care in different contexts and settings, which can inspire and inform future actions.
Works Cited
Dandona, Lalit, et al. “A Population-Based Study of Presbyopia in Rural India: The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study.” Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, vol. 48, no. 6, 2007, pp. 2819-2824.
Hatt, Laurel, et al. “Determinants of Quality of Care and Access to Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Facilities and Midwife-Led Facilities in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 18, no. 1, 2018.
Institute of Medicine. Access to Health Care in America. National Academies Press, 1993.
Lu, Chunling, et al. “Towards Universal Health Coverage: An Evaluation of Rwanda Mutuelles in Its First Eight Years.” PLoS One, vol. 7, no. 6, 2012.
Macinko, James, et al. “The Impact of Primary Healthcare on Population Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.” Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, vol. 32, no. 2, 2009, pp. 150-171.
World Bank. Healthy Development: The World Bank Strategy for Health, Nutrition and Population Results. World Bank Publications, 2007.
World Health Organization. Immunization Coverage: Fact Sheet. WHO, 2018.
World Health Organization. Universal Health Coverage (UHC). WHO, 2020.
