Health Is Wealth!

Without health it is difficult to have fun, pleasure, wealth, freedom and drive for reason and responsibility. At times in pursuit of above mentioned things we lose our focus on health and lose health! This is true at individual and country level.

Which country has the best health care system?
Does spending more on healthcare ensure better health?
What is the optimum funding for healthcare?
How health is a linear and non-linear function?

The above questions require research and data collection and analysis. And it will always be a work in progress. Three articles published in Lancet throw some light and make us ponder on health.

Wealth But Not Health In USA The article speaks about the now well known fact that US spends more on health care per person than other G7 countries.
Americans especially American women are having declining health for 30 years.  Americans fare badly not only at life span but also at infant mortality, low birth weight, injuries and homicides, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, drug-related deaths!, obesity, diabetes and heart disease, chronic lung disease, HIV/AIDS prevalence.  The data if segregated according to region and economic level will be more revealing about the disparity in health condition.
I suspect there is a great inequality in health care access and outcome within US. This despite the fact that US spends 18% of its GDP on health. The leading European countries range between 9.5 to 12 %. And they have better metrics to show. One thing which i dare to conclude without digging into the data  is that probably the level of inequality is less as of today. It will be interesting to note the metrics 5 and 10 years from now as austerity measures get implemented.

Cuba spends on healthcare and has results to show for it also.

What are the lessons for other countries? What model should one follow? How should the government intervene or give incentives for better health. This especially true for young nations like India and China which will have its major population moving above 50 years in coming decade or two.

The Lancet article mentions the following remedies for US.

"Why are Americans at a health disadvantage compared with those in other countries? The fragmented US health-care system, and, in particular, poor access to health care and to primary care, are partly to blame. Lack of insurance, or inadequate insurance, restricts access to health care for many Americans. But the system is not the only problem. Unhealthy behaviours abound in the USA, particularly overeating, drug abuse, and other risk-taking activities such as not wearing motorcycle helmets, drinking and driving, and using firearms. Social and economic conditions in the USA contribute to high incomes for some, but to high poverty and income inequality for others, and to low standards of education. Welfare safety nets are not as robust as they are in other countries. Moreover, cities in the USA are often built around car use, which discourages physical activity and contributes to obesity."

Also it seeks implementation of National Prevention Strategy.

The report mentions the following things:

The Strategy’s seven Priorities are designed to improve health and 
wellness for the entire U.S. population, including those groups 
disproportionately affected by disease and injury. 
• Tobacco Free Living
• Preventing Drug Abuse and Excessive Alcohol Use 
• Healthy Eating
• Active Living
• Injury and Violence Free Living
• Reproductive and Sexual Health
• Mental and Emotional Well-Being


My opinion:

1. Behaviors are difficult to change. People who fight fires are normally the heroes and not the one's who prevent fires! We need to glorify fire prev-enters.
2. Corporate's, government, schools, colleges should stress on healthy living. Incentives and recognition should be given to healthy people. Ideal Blood pressure individuals in different age groups, Best Glycemic control in a particular quarter, Best Aerobic capacity person, etc etc.
3. Role of viruses in causing infections, chronic diseases and cancers should be highlighted. Vaccinations should be explained.

We need not have to wait to implement these strategies in Emerging Countries. Every nation stands to benefit by rewarding healthy living.

Other articles to read:
1. Guardian
2. UC Atlas
3. PBS Newshour-How US Compares

A slightly different view!

So what are you going to do to stay healthy?

Question and Answers During Globalization, Development & Inequality

1. Which of India's growth rate is the norm? 6% or the 9% range?
  The panelists answered this indirectly. They said India's growth at 9% can be the norm! But the 9% was not uniform or healthy. We need to find ways and means of ensuring 9% plus growth without impact on climate, ecology and without increasing inequality!

2. Question about Russia.

In Russia there has been an increase in inequality. The average life span has declined. This is more in tune with the fact that Russia has become a rent seeking economy.

3. Is Democracy a prerequisite for reducing inequality?
        The answer if i infer correctly from Joseph Stiglitz is that it is not. The relationship between democracy and inequality is very complex. He mentioned that it was mentioned in textbooks that Russia grew because it was not a democracy and when it started stagnating it was blamed that it was because it is not a democracy!

4. In times of change there is a rise in inequality, example-railways, information technology etc. Is change the driver of inequality?
          The panelists mentioned that this the typical argument of mainstream economists. The question of inequality cannot be left to be answered by market forces. Government has to intervene to reduce inequality by various measures.

5. Taxation
     Discussion about the need to have Cayman Islands! Why should the speculators and other irrational risk takers should be taxed less then the people who are productive like researchers, industry workers etc.

Few other points and my ruminations.

Information asymmetry was mentioned as a reason for inequality. This is always going to be there. Also the fact that 1% of Americans hold 35% of wealth will hold true when we look at wealth of nations. The G7 nations may hold disproportionate amount of wealth and also consume disproportionately. This is due the technology lead which the developed countries have. This cannot be eliminated in near future.  This asymmetry in information is protected by various policies, laws and regulations. When this question was posed to Joseph Stiglitz he replied that China and India will have to work together and bring a change in this. This calls for laws which will be more in favor of developing countries.

Disclaimer: I have missed few question. Also the interpretation of answers might me prejudiced because of my beliefs or disbelief!