Access To Medicines

Access To Medicines 4access To medicines

Many people across the world face many challenges in accessing quality healthcare. This usually affects low income families who find it difficult to access medicine when they get sick. This leads to a lot of suffering and depression among these families. There are several reasons why I would focus on this medical issue instead of population. The first reason is to reduce pain and suffering.

Many low income families who cannot get access to medicine suffer a lot. They go through pain which makes my heart sad. I don’t like hearing people suffer from things we can solve. That is why I intend to develop this human service program. The second reason is to reduce prolonged illness.

Inability to get access to medicine and quality healthcare leads to prolonged illness (Baldoni, 2019). This means that patients from such low income families take too long to heal. This can lead to reduced production in the economy. This happens when the sick people don’t go to work because the sickness is taking too long to heal. Another reason why I intend to develop this program is to prevent and reduce number of deaths.

Having no access to essential medicines has led to numerous numbers of deaths in low income families. This brings pain to family members and friends after losing their loved ones. Some children are left orphaned or single parented which affects their lives negatively. It pains me to see innocent children left on their own struggling with life when we can help. That is why I feel it is important to support such families to get access to medicines so that they can stay with their loved ones in peace.

In addition to this, women and men can be left widowed which can affect their lives negatively as well. It is very painful to lose your loved in a situation that can be prevented. Poverty has affected the administration of quality healthcare to people in many ways (Benjamin, 2018). These are the reasons why I intend to develop this program. The main point behind this is to become a blessing in another person’s life.

The main issues I plan to address in this program include the following. The first issue is holistic individual health. This is characterized by the treatment of the whole individual, taking into account social and mental factors, rather than just the symptoms of the disease. Another issue is high costs of medicines and lack of insurance coverage (Alexander, 2020). These issues go hand in hand.

To be specific, they are the main reasons why individuals from low income families find it difficult to access medicines and quality health care. That is why I believe that if these issues are addressed and solved, these families will benefit and get access to medicines and quality health care. The following are also healthcare needs that my program will address. They include mental, physical, sensory, emotional, developmental and behavioral needs that require good medical management, specialized services and effective healthcare interventions. These needs are very important in human life and that is why they are going to be taken seriously.

I believe that if these issues I have raised in this program can be fixed, then millions of families will get solutions to their health problems.

Paper For Above instruction

Access to affordable medicines and healthcare remains one of the paramount challenges facing low-income populations worldwide. This issue not only undermines individual health but also hampers economic development and perpetuates cycles of poverty. Addressing these barriers requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach that incorporates policy reforms, community engagement, and innovative healthcare delivery models.

One of the primary factors impeding access to medicines is the high cost associated with pharmaceutical products. These costs include not only the price of drugs but also expenses associated with transportation, storage, and administration. For low-income families, such costs are often prohibitive, leading to delayed or neglected treatment. To overcome this barrier, governments and organizations can implement subsidy programs, negotiate price reductions with pharmaceutical companies, and promote the use of generic medicines. The introduction of subsidies can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses, making essential medicines more affordable (WHO, 2021).

Another significant obstacle is the lack of insurance coverage. Many low-income individuals do not have access to health insurance, which leaves them vulnerable to catastrophic health expenses. Expanding insurance schemes to include low-income populations can help mitigate this issue. For instance, community-based health insurance models have shown success in various countries by pooling resources and spreading risk among community members (Xu & Koehlmoos, 2018). Strengthening policy frameworks to mandate coverage and subsidize premiums can broaden access to healthcare services and medicines.

Beyond financial barriers, logistical challenges such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure and shortages of healthcare professionals also limit access to medicines. Remote and rural areas often lack pharmacies and clinics, forcing residents to travel long distances for treatment—a journey that is often unfeasible due to transportation costs or physical disabilities. To address this, establishing telemedicine and mobile health clinics can extend services to underserved communities (Bashir et al., 2020). Telepharmacy services, in particular, have gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing remote consultation and medication management, thereby expanding access in resource-constrained settings.

Addressing social determinants of health is equally critical. Poverty, lack of education, and social marginalization contribute to poor health outcomes and hinder access to medicines. Community engagement and health education campaigns can foster awareness about available services and the importance of timely treatment. Collaborations with local leaders and organizations can promote culturally relevant interventions and ensure that healthcare initiatives are tailored to community needs (Farmer et al., 2019).

Integrating mental, emotional, sensory, developmental, and behavioral health needs into healthcare services emphasizes a holistic approach. Such integration ensures that treatment addresses the whole person, recognizing that social and psychological factors significantly influence health outcomes. For example, mental health services should be incorporated into primary care settings to facilitate early interventions. Investment in training healthcare workers to identify and manage these complex needs further enhances service quality and effectiveness (WHO, 2018).

To sustainably improve access, policy frameworks must prioritize affordability and equity. Governments should allocate resources toward subsidizing essential medicines and expanding healthcare infrastructure. International organizations can play a facilitative role by providing technical assistance, funding, and advocacy to promote health equity. Additionally, fostering public-private partnerships can stimulate innovative solutions, such as e-health platforms and affordable generic drug supply chains, which have demonstrated success elsewhere (World Bank, 2020).

In conclusion, improving access to medicines and healthcare for low-income populations demands a multi-pronged effort that addresses financial barriers, logistical challenges, and social determinants. Implementing policy reforms, expanding coverage, leveraging technology, and promoting community engagement are all vital components of a sustainable strategy. Only through such comprehensive approaches can we ensure that all individuals, regardless of income, have the opportunity to attain optimal health and well-being.

References

  • Bashir, M., Yadav, P., Sharma, S., & Singh, B. (2020). Telemedicine and telepharmacy services during COVID-19 pandemic: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 33(6), 862-865.
  • Farmer, P., Mukherjee, J., & McKinney, L. (2019). Addressing social determinants of health through community engagement. American Journal of Public Health, 109(S3), S180–S181.
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2018). Mental health and development: Targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group. WHO Press.
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Essential medicines and health products: Ensuring equitable access. WHO Publications.
  • XU, K. & KOEHLMOOS, T. (2018). Community-based health insurance models for universal health coverage: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 18, 973.