In: Psychology
Why is access to the comprehensive, quality healthcare services important? What does this access specifically impact, in terms of people’s health outcomes? What role does an effective health promotion program play in access to health care?
Access to health care is extremely important as it impacts a persons’ overall physical, mental and social health status and his quality of life. If one lacks in accessing the health care it can lead to unmet health needs, inability to get preventive services like immunizations, delya in receiving appropriate and timely care, preventable hospitalisation and financial burden. Access to comprehensive and quality health care services is important in maintaining and promoting heath, reducing unnecessary disability and premature death, preventing and managing disease, and achieving a better health quality.
Access to quality heath care has a direct impact on individual’s physical, social and mental health. If a person gets timely health care service, it reduces the risk of spending more money that would otherwise be costed had the access been delayed. Such element does not put pressure on financially challenged families that leads to lower mental stress. A good health enables an individual to attend social gathering and his social life is not affected that helps him to cope up with recovering anxiety and depression. Timely health care service disrupts the physical degradation and provide better health service to the individual.
Health promotion takes a comprehensive approach to promote health by involving various players and focusing on multisectoral approaches and has a direct or indirect bearing on health such as changes in pattern of consumption, inequities, environments and cultural beliefs. Health promotion efforts are towards priority health conditions that involve a large population and promoting multiple interventions. These can be implemented in markets, residential areas, schools, workplaces, etc to address priority health problems. This is done by taking into account the complex health determinants such as practices, behaviours, cultural beliefs, etc that operate in the places people live and work.
Health promotion mandates governments actions in making health a central line in government policies. In the times of COVID, health promotion can play a bigger role by implying health policies and take proper measures to prevent people from the pandemic.
Health promotion also provides skills, information and knowledge to make healthy choices and have a better immune system to fight the diseases. Cities also play an important role in promoting goo health by having committed and strong leaders that take measures for healthy urban planning and primary health care facilities.