Public health and health care systems are impacted by globalization the exchange of
new ideas, and opportunities to influence the larger field of global health. As you
consider the factors related to globalization, discuss how low-income and middle-income
countries should navigate the balance in building strong public health systems alongside
an efficient health care system. What three pieces of advice would you give the Minister
of Health in a country like Zambia or Nepal when it comes to the structure and
integration of health care and public health?
Public Health and Health Care Systems
Low and middle-income countries have experienced challenges in public health care
systems such as inadequate budgetary allocations, insufficient health care personnel,
inadequate facilities, and ineffective leadership. This paper will explore ways in which low
income and middle-income countries can build a robust health care system through the
integration of public health and health care systems.
According to Gilson et al. (2017), developing countries should bring care close to
patients by the designing system around patients. This is made possible by training more
health workers. It also allows patients to monitor health systems and, in return, provide a
perspective on how care and support should be provided in the health systems.
Emerging countries should invest more in public health systems by financing research
institutes, allocating more budget in the construction of more hospitals, and employing more
health workers as opined by Gilson et al. (2017). Unnecessary research and tests should also
be avoided to minimize the waste of funds.
Developing countries should also strive to have able leaders heading public health
facilities, where the focus is a community-centered, and not individual-centered (Gilson et al.,
2017). Additionally, developing countries should invest in universal health care, where every
citizen is entitled and assured of quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare. In my opinion,
I would advise the ministries of health of developing countries such as Nepal and Zambia to
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS 2
invest by allocating more budget to public health systems. It is also significant for them to
design systems around patients by training more health workers and focusing on universal
healthcare.
To sum up, developing countries experience challenges in balancing robust public
health systems alongside an efficient healthcare system. Low-income countries like Zambia
and middle-income countries such as Nepal experience similar problems such as inadequate
designs of healthcare systems, insufficient budgetary allocation, and poor leadership.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS 3
Reference
Gilson, L., Pienaar, D., Brady, L., Hawkridge, A., Naledi, T., Vallabhjee, K., & Schneider, H.
(2017). Development of the health system in the Western Cape: experiences since
1994. South African Health Review, 2017(1), 59-69.