Question

What are some of the future challenges that demand continued or strengthened collaboration in global public health?

Answer 1

A. The WHO released the top 10 global healthcare challenges in the coming decade.

B.Global warming, conflict zones and unfair healthcare provision are among the main obstacles.

C. Many healthcare challenges are interconnected and will require a coordinated international effort to overcome.

E. Experts are concerned governments around the world are failing to invest sufficient funds in overcoming these issues.

F. These are the main challenges on the list.

1. Elevating health in the climate debate

The climate crisis poses one of the biggest threats to both the planet and the health of the people who live on it.

2. Delivering health in conflict and crisis:

  The already difficult task of containing disease outbreaks is made more challenging in countries rife with conflict.

3. Making healthcare fairer:

The gap between the haves and have-nots is growing, especially in terms of access to healthcare.

4. Expanding access to medicines:

Although many in the world take access to medication for granted, medicines and vaccines are not an option for almost one-third of the global population.

5. Stopping infectious diseases:

Infectious diseases continue to kill millions of people, most of them poor. This picture looks unlikely to change in the near future.

6. Preparing for epidemics:

Airborne-viruses or diseases transferred by mosquito bite can spread quickly, with potentially devastating consequences.

7. Protecting people from dangerous products:

Many poorer parts of the world face malnutrition and food insecurity, while at the same time, global obesity levels and diet-related problems are on the rise.

8. Investing in the people who defend our health:

Health workers are in short supply the world over. Sustainable health and social care systems depend on well-paid and properly trained staff who can deliver quality care.

9. Keeping adolescents safe:

Every year, more than 1 million adolescents – aged between 10 and 19 – die. The main causes include road accidents, suicides, domestic violence and diseases like HIV or lower respiratory conditions. But many of these premature deaths are preventable.

10. Earning public trust;

Delivering safe, reliable healthcare to patients involves first gaining their confidence and trust; a trust which can be undermined by the rapid spread of misinformation on social media. For example, the anti-vaccination movement has led to an increase in deaths from preventable diseases.