Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Muhammad Raja

When we talk about UHC we refer to a type of health coverage that ensures all
people can get health services without placing a financial burden on them (WHO,
2015)). There are different UHC packages/programs but all must include an
essential services package of which Maternal Health Care is included (WHO,
2015). Having maternal health under an essential package shows its
importance.
One of the key points on Maternal health as well as womens health in general is
Inequality, where by a womens needs are not met on the same level as a males
(MHTF, 2015). It is of utmost importance to realize that women have different
health care needs than men. Gender will play a role in UHC and will affect many
policies. Gender must be factored in to ensure equity amongst all people that are
covered, for example providing access to care at appropriate times. A single
mother having just given birth might have to work odd hour jobs to support
herself and new-born and wont be able to see a doctor that a UHC package
covers during standard 9-5 working hours. Factors like this need to be taken into
account when formulating policies for UHC.
There will be various positive and negative effects as an outcome of the inclusion
of Maternal Health in UHC programs. By removing the financial stress from
expecting mothers there will be an increase in the amount of women that will
visit doctors during pregnancy. Proper care during pregnancy is rather important
and can be achieved if maternal health coverage is inclusive of pre-natal visits to
the doctor, which will ensure that the expectant mothers health is not
compromised in any way. A lack of funding can also lead to many women giving
birth at home in less than ideal conditions, many a time without a skilled
attendant and in unsanitary conditions especially in rural areas.
Combine these factors and its not difficult to see why 800 women are linked to
childbirth on a daily basis. 99% of the 800 are in developing countries (WHO,
2014) (with less than ideal conditions for birth) which greatly compromises an
expecting mothers health and can often lead to infection. Of the 99%, 58% give
birth without a skilled attendant (WHO, 2014), which is a form of obstructed
labour.
By providing access to adequate health care, i.e. giving birth in a sanitary and
competent hospital, we can reduce risks related to infection and obstructed
labour. A means of access must also be provided as this is a financial factor as
well. Many women dont have access to a health care facility due to not being
able to afford transportation, and what good is having the opportunity to see a
doctor but no means of getting there. Providing access will have a direct impact
on the mortality rate of women during pregnancy. A good example of a
government health program in place is that of El Salvador where free access to
health care is provided for expecting mothers (Action For Global Health, 2015).
They have maternal waiting homes where women can go before birth and will
have access to check-ups before giving birth by doctors, as well as providing
them with transport when they go into labour. They would have eliminated a
great amount of stress which is negative in its own, as well as giving them
access to doctors decreasing the chances of pre-birth complications.
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A fairly big factor that could be a drawback would be that UHC would be
subsidised by the government. This could be a great disadvantage to women
living in countries that do not view women as equally as men. This in turn could
mean that more focus is put on mens health and womens health being
neglected. Another potential negative factor is corruption. Corrupt policy makers
will push for agendas that favour their political position, which may be befitted
by not empowering women and not promoting equality. Also, if people know they
are getting health care for free or at a much reduced cost they are likelier to
exhibit riskier behaviour, knowing that they will be taken care of. We could see
an increase in unprotected sex which in the case of HIV and pregnancy could
mean transmission of the virus between mother and child. We also have to take
into consideration how this will affect HCPs. With free health care comes a
quantative increase in patients which leads to longer waiting times and a lot of
resources being used at any given time, which could have detrimental effects on
a mother going into labour but is unable to see an available doctor/nurse or get a
resource (medication, equipment etc.) due to a shortage and supply not meeting
the increased demand.
Ultimately, maternal health can improve greatly post 2015 simply by reducing
direct causes of maternal mortality and morbidity e.g. Infection, unsafe
abortions, obstructed labour etc. By providing access to health care that doesnt
cause any financial strain we eliminate many barriers (economic, social) that
would otherwise prevent pregnant mothers from seeking necessary health care
in order for a safe pregnancy and childbirth. We do however need to be mindful
in how implementing UHC may affect other aspects of life which could ultimately
prove to be negative, even for expecting mothers. Gender inequality also needs
to be addressed in a way where womens rights are recognised and women are
empowered. This will lead to better health care for women, who might in turn
become pregnant.

E-DRUG Muhammad Raja

Essentialdrugs supports the communication between HCPs in regard to essential
drugs. Minimal information was available but it would seem that they supported
discussions relating to legislation, supply and demand, rational drug use etc. as
well as being aimed towards HCPs In developing countries, hence the use of
email communication for its simplicity. If one had access to this organisation it
would serve as a messenger to promote discussions in various essential drug
topics. HCPs could use this information to improve factors that would in turn
improve access to essential medicines (drugs).

RMCH Program
The Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality in South Africa program is a program that
has its focus on improving primary health care via policies set by the nDOH, by getting
action out of policies that will have an effect on maternal and child mortality rates as
well as supporting the MDGs and health education (RMCH, 2015). It is important to
have a group thats focus is on maternal health on its own. This will ensure maternal
and child health is not overlooked by policies. It would be important to support this
group and the movement in order to address the growing issue of womens health and
it being benefitted by improving primary health care.

HIFA Healthcare Information For All - Muhammad Raja

The goal of this organisation is to provide Healthcare information to all those that
require it. Part of their mission statements reads every health worker will have
access to information needed to protect their own health and health of those
theyre responsible for (HIFA, 2015). As future Health Care Professionals (HCP)
we need to be able to have access to this information in order to make the
correct informed decisions, which is the case when formulating policies for
example. This information also needs to be unbiased which is another goal of
HIFA. HCPs need to be able to make decisions based on facts rather than
prejudiced interpretations. This is not unfamiliar to the pharmacy profession
where many drug companies provide information that might be misrepresented.
This information might be the only information available in countries that dont
have access to adequate information. It is the duty of future HCPs to provide the
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correct information to patients and act on correct info, and the only way to do
that is to have access to this information. It is therefore of utmost importance for
HCPs to join HIFA.

BRICS Brazil Russia India China South Africa Medicines

Alliance - Muhammad Raja
BRICS is a network of people that are involved in medicines access and wise use.
It is a peer-to-peer network that enables collaboration on various priority
objectives and themes (BRICS , 2012). As a HCP we need to be able to work with
other HCPs and people involved in medicines in order to identify problems and
find innovative solutions. By joining BRICS we are presented with such an
opportunity. It enables HCPs to contribute solutions and thoughts to various
medicine related themes such as access, use etc. HCPs will be able to broaden
their understanding of medicines and use of medicines and as a result will be
able to improve many medicine related areas eg. Policy formations, access to
medicines, promotion etc. in their own community and country. It would be wise
to join BRICS in order to contribute solutions and gain advice as well as to
discuss medicine related issues and gain insight from others. As pharmacists we
need to contribute our knowledge on medicines in order to generate solutions to
problems and promote the correct use of medicines which is a goal of BRICS.

FIP International Pharmaceutical Federation Muhammad Raja

The FIP is the leading organisation when it comes to representing the
pharmaceutical profession (FIP, 2015). They work together with organisations
such as WHO and UN in order to promote and develop the profession (FIP, 2015).
Members are presented with access to many resources such as publications,
discussions etc. and this can help improve our knowledge as well as
communicate problems and solutions with others in the pharmaceutical field. All
this with the ultimate goal of advancing the profession in order to improve global
health, which is what we should be striving towards. As a young pharmacist that
joins FIP you can join Young Pharmacists Group (YPG), a part of FIP, which is
aimed at pharmacists under 35 or that have recently graduated. Young
pharmacists can get grants for projects that can improve the health of a
community. Any persons in the pharmacy profession should join FIP in order for
support and to help advance health care as a result of advancing pharmacy. They
have meetings as well as workshops and conferences that we should aspire to
attend in order to promote development. FIP would like to be an important part
of global health care decisions and actions, which would be a representation on
the profession as well as individuals within FIP. We should be a part of a group
that is focussed on going forward and implementing progressive change for
health care.

Post 2015 SDG Relating to womens health Muhammad Raja

Throughout the next few pages we will look at the Post 2015 SDGs that could
have an impact on womens health and how it would affect a least developed
country (Mozambique), low income (Kenya), Middle income (Malaysia) and High
income (Switzerland) country

Eradicate all forms of poverty

low/no access to adequate health care due to financial
constraints

In Mozambique (Least Developed) gender inequality is present

and high, women are trapped in poverty due to this (Rural
Poverty Portal , 2015) , which leads to inadequate health care
In Kenya (Low Income) women have a higher poverty rate due to
the gender gap present in education .
Malaysia (middle
income)has
also
experiences
gender
inequality,
but not to
the
Switzerland
(High Income)
not
had a history
of being
a poor country,
with
point
of
the
first
2
countries.
We
see
poverty
being
caused
more
by
other
a few exceptions. Being unemployed in Switzerland would be one of the only
factors
as poor
wealth
distribution
low wages
rather
than
causes
of such
poverty,
along
with its
high cost and
of living.
74% of
women
aregender
inequality.
However,
involved
in paid
work many women do not earn as much as men and are not
presented with the same opportunities
in the work force
5

Main cause of poverty in all except Switzerland

Gender Inequality

Poverty
Unable to afford proper
health care
High Income
Country

Equal Job
Opportunities and
high employment
rate

Decreased amount
of poverty

End Hunger and Improve nutrition

Improv
es
Health
In Mozambique malnutrition is a great cause of many deficiencies
and problems, leading to unfavourable health conditions, amd is
mainly caused by poverty. Women have special nutritional needs
during pregnancy e.g. Iron deficiencies in lactating mothers
causing anaemia, Vit A deficiencies causing night blindness etc.
therefore placing emphasis not only on the need to improve
general nutrition but also on the special nutritional needs of
Kenya battles with both under nutrition and over nutrition. More
prioritization is needed to combat malnutrition. 25% of women of the
reproductive age (15-49) are overweight or obese calling on a need to
improve the nutritional status of women by educating them on
nutritious foods, especially those that will be beneficial during
pregnancy.
Nutrition in Malaysia has come a long way and the country has seen
dramatic changes in the way it looks at nutrition. Nutritional information
and education is accessible via websites dedicated to Malaysian Nutrition
(insert). Socio-economic changes have unfortunately led to unhealthy
diets due to changes in lifestyles. Malaysia will have to focus on promoting
a better diet, with focus on womens dietary needs, more than having to
improve access to more nutritious food, again calling on the need for
IMPROV
nutritional education which will
lead to women (and men) making better
Switzerland does not suffer from noticeable
under nutrition. Their main
E
dietary choices which
will
reduce
their
risk of NCDs.
Bad
NUTRITI
Pover
Notleading to secondary illnesses
problem is obesity and eating the
wrong food,
Negativ
Nutritio
ONAL
ty
enoug
such as cardiovascular problems.
EDUCA
TI
e impact
n
Poor
h
ON
Better
on nutritional
essent
nutrion
pregnan
al
knowledge
ial
cy and
choices
6
expectin
Improv
g
ed
Health

Improv
e
access
to

Ensure gender equality

In Mozambique gender inequality
health conditions

poverty

Bad

Women need to be allowed to engage more in order to allow

them to learn important skills which will allow them to escape
poverty and improve their health
Women in kenya are not given enough rights due to traditional
views of womens roles in society. Women are also subject to more
violence than men and are not presented the same opportunities in
decision making as men.
Narrow gender gap
health

improve overall access

Improve

Gender equality in Malaysia is sliding. Women do not hold many high

positions in the workforce preventing them from accessing the same
resources as men, therefore hindering their progress in society and
preventing their access to health care
Switzerland ranks 11th in the world in regards to Gender Equality.
Women are paid slightly less than men and hold less stable jobs.
Women in Switzerland would have similar access to health care as men
do.
financial stability

Constant access to health care

We