Cities that are congested and polluted, with high costs of living, a perpetual rat race and yet a more sedentary lifestyle, have created physical, mental and cognitive health issues. Zoonotic, infectious and non-communicable diseases, disability and changing demographics are putting health and social care under pressure. In this episode we look at how we can provide equitable, effective and regenerative health and social care to our citizens.
As Alicia Rojos Santos states, well thought out and implemented policies universally allow for better results in preventative and responsive health care. Defining and implementing a holistic approach - including pollution, nutrition, education and urban design - is imperative.
Of course, policies without sufficient funding aligned to health, socio-economic and cultural needs (not electoral cycles) will fail. Public-private partnerships have a role as governments alone cannot finance universal health coverage, whether in industrialised countries with ageing populations or global south countries with small tax bases.
Paradoxically, we find unused, expensive equipment across African cities. We must develop capacity, and a culture, to build and maintain technologies locally. At the same time, Dr Peter believes scaling up and exporting frugal innovation is viable if - once again - we align policy and financing, and we match solutions with needs.
Dr Karan Thakur and Peter Waiswa unpack the supply and demand mismatch across the world. On the one hand there is a brain drain of global south medical professionals moving to better pay and facilities in the global north. On the other hand you have “medical value travel” where citizens from the global north can get high quality, more affordable options in the global south. Even though there is also south-south medical tourism, governments in developing countries must recognise that retaining talent at home is vital if we are to fight inequity.
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