Thursday 7 April marks World Health Day. It is celebrated every year with the aim to raise awareness to a specific health issue which affects people across the world. The date of the day marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948.
World Health Day 2022 theme: A Healthy Planet
For this year’s theme, WHO will focus global attention on urgent actions essential to keep humans and the planet healthy and create societies that prioritise wellbeing. In the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet and heart disease, asthma and cancer increasing, WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes. The climate crisis is also a health crisis.
For example, extreme heat can cause serious health issues like headaches, heat strokes or even organ failure, and flooding can cause shortages of safe to drink water which can lead to illness from polluted water.
In November 2021, United Nations countries came together for a Conference of the Parties (COP) with the aim to unite the world to tackle climate change. To discover more visit their website.
If countries are taking action to fight the climate crisis, how are countries supporting the health of their people?
What are the health systems from different countries like?
England
In England, all residents are automatically entitled to free public health care through the National Health Service (NHS). This includes services like hospital, physician and mental health care and support. Did you know around 10.5% of the United Kingdom’s population chooses to access additional insurance to receive private, elective healthcare services?
Australia
Australia has a universal public health insurance programme called Medicare. Citizens of Australia are automatically enrolled with Medicare and have access to free public hospital care, receive some coverage for physician services, pharmaceuticals and other certain services. Around half of Australians buy private supplementary insurance to pay for dental services and private hospital care for example.
Italy
The National Health Service in Italy automatically covers all citizens. Residents receive mostly free primary care, inpatient care, health screenings, pharmaceuticals, preventative medicine, maternity, specialty, home and hospice care. Private health insurance doesn’t play a big part in the health coverage system in Italy.
China
Near-universal coverage is achieved in China through publicly funded basic medical insurance. The basic medical insurance plans cover primary, specialty, hospital, mental health care and prescription drugs and traditional Chinese medicine. In China, complementary private health insurance helps citizens to cover additional costs.
United States of America
The American health system is a mix of public and private, for-profit and non-profit insurers and health care providers. Private insurance is the most common form of healthcare coverage for Americans and is provided by employers.
World Health Day
The Covid-19 pandemic showed us the power of science, however, it also highlighted the inequality of our world. The pandemic has unearthed the need to create sustainable wellbeing in societies which enables us to achieve equal health that isn’t affected so badly by the climate.
For more information and to take action visit the World Health Day website.
Accessing healthcare at Benenden Hospital
We offer over 250 self-pay treatments and services, delivered by experienced, caring staff at our CQC rated Outstanding private hospital in the heart of the Wealden countryside.
If you require a particular procedure but are unable to pay for it in one go, you can choose from one of the payment plans we offer through Chrysalis Finance. Put your health in our hands this World Health Day.
It's easy to find out more about treatment by giving us a call on 01580 363 158 or by completing our online enquiry form.
Published on 07 April 2022