Summary Of Dr. Paul Farmer's Reimagining Global Health
Dr. Paul Farmer, physician and anthropologist, has written extensively on health, human rights, and the consequences of social inequality(PIH Co-Founders, 2013). Dr. Farmer and Dr. Kim, co-founders of Partners in Health, collaboratively wrote Reimagining Global Health which expands on achieving global health equity and strengthening the health system. With a focus on underdeveloped countries, building better health systems reduces the burden of disease, addresses social determinants of health, and evolves long-term care delivery capacity(Farmer, 303). There were six main points focused in the reading: maternal and child health with a focus on malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS, tropical diseases, noncommunicable diseases and cancer,
…show more content…
Even more, most children die from malnourishment but are not reported as such(305). However, campaigns including the Gavi Alliance and the Task Force for Global Health arrange deworming programs(306) and ready-to-use therapeutic foods(307). On the topic of maternal health, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health wish to strengthen the health system by improving health worker training, sanctioning referrals to appropriate facilities, and providing prenatal care regularly(308). Second, the current problem with treating and preventing the three top diseases -- malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS -- in underdeveloped countries is the lack of funding. Farmer states, “inadequate financial support”(312) results in tens of millions of lives at …show more content…
The surgeons are concentrated in cities and are expensive. Although many diseases are treatable with surgery, surgical services such as emergency surgical care or obstetric services are not integrated into the health facilities. Farmer believes new surgical infrastructure and expanding training will result in more doctors, nurses, and health workers which will create more tools for treatment and prevention(331). Sixth, Farmer raises the question, what is the quality of health care in the U.S. especially if the costs are rising “unsustainably”(332)? The U.S. has a health care crisis that new technology cannot fix on its own; it needs an increase in community-based health care delivery. By realigning incentives within the care system, community members can meet the social needs that doctors
Even more, most children die from malnourishment but are not reported as such(305). However, campaigns including the Gavi Alliance and the Task Force for Global Health arrange deworming programs(306) and ready-to-use therapeutic foods(307). On the topic of maternal health, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health wish to strengthen the health system by improving health worker training, sanctioning referrals to appropriate facilities, and providing prenatal care regularly(308). Second, the current problem with treating and preventing the three top diseases -- malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS -- in underdeveloped countries is the lack of funding. Farmer states, “inadequate financial support”(312) results in tens of millions of lives at …show more content…
The surgeons are concentrated in cities and are expensive. Although many diseases are treatable with surgery, surgical services such as emergency surgical care or obstetric services are not integrated into the health facilities. Farmer believes new surgical infrastructure and expanding training will result in more doctors, nurses, and health workers which will create more tools for treatment and prevention(331). Sixth, Farmer raises the question, what is the quality of health care in the U.S. especially if the costs are rising “unsustainably”(332)? The U.S. has a health care crisis that new technology cannot fix on its own; it needs an increase in community-based health care delivery. By realigning incentives within the care system, community members can meet the social needs that doctors