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7th March 2013 #1
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The UK is the first country to have a report based on the “ Global Burden of Disease “ ( GBD ) study ( from 1990-2010 … see
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...355-4/fulltext )
It’s been well publicised ( see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21667065 ).
• Life expectancy has improved, but so has the average for comparable European countries. In several areas – ( breast ) cancer , heart disease, chronic lung disease / infections – the UK seems to be doing poorly compared to its neighbours.
• Average life expectancy at birth is 80 ( males 78 / females 82 ) but less than 69 of these are “ healthy life “. Spain and Italy are among the 11 countries doing better than the UK.
• Poor health in the UK is linked to smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and excess alcohol consumption – risk factors which can be avoided and/or treated.
• This is disappointing in a country which has had universal free health care and public health programmes for more than six decades. The NHS is still admired – if not the envy of the world. There’s growing recognition that the NHS may no longer be fit for purpose. Other countries ( both richer and poorer than the UK ) have better outcomes from their systems of health care. Many use insurance-based health care.
• Improvement in health can – and should be – down to lifestyle choice, not more attempts by the government to force changes in behaviour ( such as minimum pricing for alcohol ; more smoking restrictions ; fat tax on food ). Individuals could take more responsibility for their own health, including having free health check ups and screening.
As for the Philippines, it’s not ( yet ) had this “ in depth “ analysis from GBD – so the following is my opinion only !
• Life expectancy at birth is still about a decade less for both sexes than for the UK ( 71 ; males 68, females 74 ).
• Remember there’s no such thing as an average person / patient – these figures vary considerably around the country, as they do for the UK.
Reasons to be cheerful :-
• More is now spent on health as a proportion of GDP ( around 3.6% ).
• More of the population are claimed to be members of PhilHealth ( 85% ).
• Several of the best Philippines hospitals are internationally accredited.
• Reproductive Health Bill signed into law.
Cautions :-
• Corruption means limited resources not best used.
• Main serious diseases no longer infections but similar to UK – cardiovascular, cancer, and diabetes.
• Alcohol consumption and smoking not declining.
• Not enough doctors and nurses - they emigrate for better pay / conditions.
• Too much health spending ( half ) still “ out-of-pocket “.
• Ignorance, coupled with belief in “ alternative medicine “ , poverty, and insufficient screening / vaccination coverage.
• Huge variation in standards of health care – 2/5 filipinos are said to die without medical attention.
• Tuberculosis still too common - even if diagnosed, treatment may be ineffective ( wrong drugs, not completed ).
• Still no vaccine or specific treatment for dengue.
Each country has similarities and differences – with room for improvement.
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