Question

Suppose you are a policymaker charged with reducing health disparities. If you believe the thrifty phenotype hypothesis is the root cause, design two potential policy solutions and explain why they would be successful.?

Answer 1

Health disparity is the difference in health outcomes in different groups and communities. Following policies can reduce health disparity -

1. Education - health education and awareness can help a great deal to reduce disparity. Early childhood intervention and parental education can help reduce paediatric diseases. Health education will also enhance hygienic and safe living conditions. Better knowledge about different health conditions and signs and symptoms will help people to identify the disease. This will also help people to know that where and to whom they should go for treatment. Education about basic medicines and first aids can help prevent many diseases.

2. Hiring of qualified staff and providing better access to at risk communities - Hiring and training of more staff will lead to increased manpower and thus the quality and quantity of healthcare service will increase. Also providing better accessibility to high risk community will help to control and treat health problems to a great extend. Setup of more healthcare clinics abd PHCs in such areas will give people a better way to access medical facilities.