What Can Be Done

It is obvious that many people around the world are lacking adequate health care and are dying as a result. Understanding the health care problems that others face, both overseas and in our own country, can leave a person with a feeling of helplessness, they wish they could help but how. I know that as I began to research, and when I witnessed first hand in South America, the crises the people without adequate healthcare face I was left with this feeling. I wanted to know what was being done for those who aren’t as fortunate as I am to have good insurance or even a well stocked, technologically advanced health care center. There are several organizations that have made it their goal to provide healthcare to those who need it. Some of these organizations, like Doctors Without Borders, I had heard of, and others I had no idea existed.

One organization that I found interesting and had never heard of before is HealthRight International, they used to be called Doctors of the World. This organization was founded in 1990 and has been working since to make a difference. What I found interesting about HealthRight International was that their main focus was toward helping those that had been hurt by human right violations. When I was reading through the types of situations they are helping with I found that we had talked about them in class, so essentially this organization was aiding those who are victims of globalization. HealthRight International supports those who have been thorough human trafficking and gender and domestic violence.

The way HealthRight International goes about their assistance is beneficial for all involved. They don’t just go in provide aid and then leave; leaving those they have helped to then fend for themselves again. HealthRight International works with communities, physicians, and leaders of an area to set up a system so health care is continued to be provided when they leave. They train members of the community and any physicians in the area. When HealthRight International goes into an area they take into consideration the culture and local practices of the area and then set up a program that will provide tools and protocols that are needed. In this way they can leave a lasting change.

Some might say that while this is great for other countries what about our own. HealthRight International works within the United States as well. They work with those who are fleeing persecution and torture. While their programs in the United States are focused on those migrating into the U.S. they are providing care to a large number of those in our country who otherwise would not be able to get adequate health care and their support program helps them become financially stable.

There is still a lot to be done. I realize that one organization is not going to solve the world’s health care problems, but with the many more organizations like this one progress is being made. I think that if we could set up more systems of health care aid where community members were trained in caring for others as well as local physicians, both in the United States as well as around the world, health care would be less of a crisis. In addition to this I think that if more individuals knew what was being done to help greater strides could be made, maybe instead of magazines in doctors’ waiting rooms we could have information on world health care and those who are trying to help.

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Resources: If you're interested

The Globalization of Healthcare

This article by CNBC is very interesting. We talk of obtaining products from overseas but rarely do we see "products" as health care. The article talks of how with the raising costs of health care in the United States some companies are sending employees overseas for their health care. This was a new approach to health care globalization I did not think about.

Globalization in health care: is international standardization of quality a step toward outsourcing?

This paper provides more insight to the resource listed above. It speaks on patients going overseas for health care now called "medical tourism" as well as the trend for doctors to go overseas to work in third world countries. What I found very helpful was that it not only presented the information but it discussed the consequences that could result from these trends.

Health Care Around the World

This source contains a lot of information. The part I focused on was the section of health as a human right. It reminded me of the discussion in class on water as a human right and it actually lists good drinking water as a right all should have. It goes on to speak of universal care and how in order for all to receive care the rich have to help the poor. Altogether I think this source ties into our discussions on the poor and on human rights well.

Doctors Without Borders

For any interested Doctors Without Borders is a great organization that is helping those who need health care world wide. At their website you can read about the health care issues facing those around the globe and what this organization is doing to help. In addition this is a way for you to get involved if you are passionate about helping because they accept donations.

World Health Organization

I thought that it was appropriate to add this site. The World Health Organization helps to monitor health trends around the world and set standard. From their site you can get information on many health care topics, including what is happening in Haiti in the aftermath and other raising concerns. This may be a good place to start if you wish to see what the state of health care is in certain areas of the world or get facts and figures.

Medical Tourism: Globalization of the Healthcare Marketplace

Having just become aware of the trend of leaving the United States to receive health care I wanted to know more. This article is a great introduction to medical tourism and its popularity. It makes the point that this has been happening for awhile, with people from other countries coming to the US and Europe. It also talks about what countries are now the popular destinations for health care. The discussion in this article takes into account the responses to medical tourism and how it is changing.

Over 40 million in U.S. can't afford health care: report

Because I have talked about the poor as failed consumers of health care I thought that it would be good to include a source that outlines how many people go without health care in the United States. This article does just that. It includes information on all spectrum's of health care including dental, and eye care. In addition to this it talks about the cost of health care.

Water and Development

Because many diseases and health issues can be linked to bad drinking water I feel that this article relates to health care. It deals with the privatization of water and the lack of clean water for many of the worlds people. It also includes several topics that tie back to our discussion of water in class, such As water as a human right and water as a resource. I found interesting the facts on illnesses caused by bad water and how many people die of preventable illnesses related to dirty drinking water.

Health Care in the Developing world

While this source contains primarily information on AIDS in Africa it brings up some other good points related to the lack of health care in poor countries. It talks of lack of resources as well as the lack of ability for people to reach the clinics there are in place due to poor traveling conditions. In addition it has some good facts on how much of the money governments are paying into health care actually reaches the patients in the form of medicine and care.

Cause of Death : Inequality

This source ties back to my intro post and the class discussion of the poor in America very well. I found the addition of statistics in this article helpful in understanding how the poor are dieing at younger ages when the United States is supposed to have good health care available. The source includes the issue of health insurance and how income and education are related to a persons health.

FACTSHEET: Top killer diseases in the developing world

I don't think that you can talk about health care in the world without knowing what kind of diseases are the major killers in developing countries. This source lists the top ten diseases in these countries, what they are, how they are caused and treatment. What I noticed was that many of the diseases listed we in the United States do not get because we have vaccines for them. This site seems connected to the issue brought up in my last post, about getting health care to those that need it.

Tackling the health care debate Fair Trade style

The discussion in class lately about Fair Trade got me wondering what kind of health care is available to those who produce the Fair Trade products. This source helps to answer that question. Looking at Peru we find in this source that there are a few options for the people, but a few still require payment. The source also mentions that health care can be hard to get for those who do not live near urban areas. This source is more worthwhile for the understanding of the health care system in Peru than its connection to Fair Trade, but it is helpful.

Parasitism: Why is it Common in Third World Countries?

I like this source because it connects living conditions to poor health. It also addresses and sums up all the causes of death related to poor health care in developing countries, such as availability of services and medicine and education. One point I found interesting was that the doctors in developing countries are going to more affluent areas and countries where they can live better lives or get better schooling.

Physicians for Peace

This website is for an organization similar to Doctors Without Borders. This organization sends doctors to developing countries to help train those in the medical profession there. They feel that education is a way to help provide better health care to poor countries. This is one way that we may be able to help health care in third world countries, by donating to organizations such as this or just learning about them.

International Health Care Service Organizations

I added this source because it provides information on many organizations that are trying to help with health care in third world countries. Knowing that health care is a problem in developing countries and knowing the causes of the problem can often leave behind a feeling of "what am I suppose to do" or "what is being done?" I wanted to include information on organizations that are helping get health care to those who need it to help answer those questions.

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