2021 can be a year of reform for many discrepancies that took place in 2020. The pandemic has been a devastating situation for the world. It has brought a surge of losses, exposed weaknesses, and informed them that there needs to be a wide-scale improvement. Unless the world uses the pandemic as a benchmark to improve their healthcare facilities, we will never be prepared for any future emergencies. The world barely recovered from one crisis, and going through another one will only crumble the system. Therefore, it is essential on a global scale to make plans to make advancements in the healthcare sector that will ultimately help stabilize the world. Here are some issues that need addressing and hopefully get worked on:
1. Build Tolerance Towards Pandemics
When the COVID-19 struck, it rendered the world helpless. It showed that no matter how top-notch our healthcare system is, it all falls short if we are not prepared. Therefore, the healthcare sector needs to build a tolerance for any future pandemics. We should take measures to make sure that hospitals are prepared for an onslaught of any future pandemics. We can use data collected by public health professionals and use it as a benchmark to make emergency arrangements. These include stocking on resources, allocated more budgets to hospitals, and consistently training the staff.
The demand for these public health professionals is increasing rapidly. Because of this, many individuals are interested in joining it as a profession. Aspirants can opt for masters in public health online to study the latest healthcare challenges and help humanity in this crisis. Online education allows them to study along with their current job.
2. Fix Global Healthcare Inequality
The pandemic of 2019 exposed the global disparity in healthcare. It means that most marginalized communities had trouble seeking and accessing healthcare. As a result, these communities suffered immensely from the virus. For them, social distancing, sanitizing, and taking care of their health was a privilege. When they came down with the virus, most marginalized communities refused treatment due to the high medical fees. In such cases, it is essential to address that the healthcare sector needs to be active in caring for all communities. No one should avoid treatment just because they don’t have the means to afford them. The government can help allocate funds to allow these communities to access healthcare at a reasonable price. NGOs can work with clinics to provide free checkups as much as possible.
3. Talk About Global Warming
The issue of global warming is no longer years away. In just a few years, we will witness the biggest global tragedy: the effects of global warming. Apart from animals going extinct, nature will deteriorate exponentially. The extreme rise and fall of temperatures also give rise to numerous diseases. It takes multiple resources and funds to combat these viruses. There is a chance that scientists won’t tackle new diseases before they cause substantial harm. Global warming also brings a wave of famine and drought with it. Water and food are the core of any living human being. If these were taken away, it would be impossible for humans to survive. Therefore, it’s essential the population takes charge today and fixes all these issues mostly by shifting towards renewable sources.
4. Support Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues have always been on the backbench of the healthcare sector. It is because there was much stigma and less research around most of these topics. As a result, most people with mental health issues suffered from a lack of treatment and care. There is now a need to address these mental health issues and make sure that patients get adequate treatment. It will help if mental health is discussed in schools and workspaces to feel less isolated if they have a mental illness. There should also be affordable treatment options since caring for a mental health issue is not cheap and, in most cases, financially draining.
5. Use Technology
As technology is evolving, it is essential to use it for the benefit of the healthcare sector. Machines that are faster in testing various diseases and even performing surgeries should be exported as much as possible. If different countries are also able to curb their healthcare issues, it will benefit the world globally. However, if a government chooses to hoard resources during times of crisis, it would be challenging to help them when they need them. The same logic applies to using technology to help local communities. Telehealth should now become more mainstream. It is the process of using technology to connect patients to doctors. It is helpful in remote locations where hospitals are not readily available, and a patient should use consultation. It also saves resources and time for the hospital only to bring in those patients who are severely ill and need emergency care.
6. Educate the Population on Diseases
One of the challenges the healthcare sector worldwide faces is the lack of education on diseases. As a result, many myths and rumors are surrounding both the disease and its cure. Take the coronavirus, for example. Despite there being a vaccine in place, not everyone is willing or ready to take them. Likewise, the countless rumors surrounding medication are a cause of concern for the public health care sector since it endangers the lives of the community. Furthermore, the more people stay away from drugs, the more the diseases will thrive.
Wrap Up
The world still needs a long way to go in fixing the public health crises. There is now a need more than ever to put emergency plans in place. These plans help countries prepare if public concerns and emergency measures need consideration. There is also a need to deploy technology globally so that the healthcare sector can improve drastically. Mental health issues are a global issue, and it’s high time to acknowledge them and find treatment routes for them. Finally, the more countries spend on the local professionals and educate the masses it will bridge the gap between treatment and disease.