Petronella Sibeene
29 October 2008
Windhoek — The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Social Services will today launch the World Health Report 2008 that highlights the ailing health systems in the country and beyond.
To be officially launched by the Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Richard Kamwi, the report critically assesses the manner in which health care is organised, financed and delivered in both rich and poor countries.
According to the report, there are a number of shortcomings that have been identified in different countries and have taken most health systems out of balance.
"In short, health systems are unfair, disjointed, inefficient and less effective than they could be. Without substantial orientation, today's struggling health systems are likely to be overwhelmed by the growing challenges," the report indicates.
Titled "Primary Health Care - Now More Than Ever", the annual report found striking inequalities in health outcomes, access to care and the costs involved in accessing health facilities.
The report says personal expenditures on health now push more than 100 million people below the poverty datum line each year.
Inequitable access, impoverishing costs, and erosion of trust in health care constitute a threat to social stability, the report says.
The launch of the 2008 report also marks the 30th anniversary of primary health care founding document, the Alma-Ata Declaration. The document carries a set of values, principles and approaches aimed at raising the level of health in deprived populations.
WHO will embark on a global conversation on the effectiveness of primary health care as a way of orienting national health system.
The report reveals that a vast proportion of resources are spent on curative services neglecting prevention and health promotion.
WHO estimates that better use of existing preventive measures could reduce the global burden of disease by as much as 70 percent.
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