Health Systems in Developing Nations: Challenges & Determinants

Health Systems in Developing Nations: Challenges

• Increase spending on health for the whole population, both rich and poor.
• Achieve health coverage for the largest number of people possible. The state should provide health services for pregnancy, disease control, family planning, etc.
• Allocate resources efficiently, taking the initiative towards the prevention and study of diseases specific to these countries.

Determinants of Health

Our health depends on several factors, some unchangeable (hereditary) and others modifiable (lifestyle). Even with the advance of science, unchanging genes could stop being so soon. The elements involved in our health are the environment, personal lifestyle, biological factors, and the health system.

Environment

Global pollution, deterioration of the ozone layer, the greenhouse effect, etc. Environmental quality is of great importance in health.

• Physical contaminants: Desert dust, volcanic eruptions, and solar radiation can cause irritations, tumors, cancer, etc.
• Chemical contaminants: Several types of different origins, such as combustion gases, organic compounds, heavy metals, photochemical oxidants, detergents, etc.
• Biological contaminants: These include viruses, bacteria, protozoa, algae, arthropods, etc. They can produce typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis, and malaria and are found in untreated water, air, and contaminated food.
• Business-partner relationships: Stress, overload, exhaustion, and poor labor relations.

Personal Lifestyle

Regular exercise, not smoking, reducing or eliminating alcohol, not using drugs (depressants, stimulants, or disruptors), having a healthy diet, and sexual hygiene.

Biological Factors

Aging and genetic agents. Mutations, metastasis. Chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome or gene defects. The best-known diseases are hemophilia, color blindness, phenylketonuria, and cystic fibrosis.

Health System

The method by which a country organizes and finances the protection of health and the provision of medical services to its inhabitants. Our health system is characterized by: providing universal coverage (everyone is entitled to public healthcare), funding through taxes according to income, and guaranteeing equal access to resources and services.

Disease

A state in which the functioning of a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social, or spiritual development is reduced or altered compared to the previous experience.