WHO 2008 Report: Some Nations Spend Just $20 Per Capita On Healthcare

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:48:49 +0000
AHN Staff

Almaty, Kazakhstan (AHN) - Up to four decades of differences in life expectancy was observed by the World Health Organization on account of disparities in the provision of primary health care. The findings were part of the World Health Report 2008 launched Tuesday by the WHO in Kazakhstan.

The disparity could be felt even within the same nation, like Nairobi where the mortality rate for children under five is below 15 in 1,000 for residents of wealthy areas, while in poor communities, the rate is 254 deaths per 1,000.

Among the major findings of WHO was that yearly state spending on health varies widely, from as low as $20 per capita to over $6,000. Because of the little government support for health care in most low- and middle-income nations, more than half of all health care expenses are made by 5.6 billion people from their own pockets.

Because of this, 58 million of 136 million women who will give birth in 2008, will have no medical assistance during the childbirth and post-birth period, which would place the lives of the mother and infants in danger.

Ann Veneman, executive director of UNICEF, said in a statement, "High maternal, infant and under-five mortality often indicates lack of access to basic services such as clean water and sanitation, immunizations and proper nutrition... Primary health care, including integrated services at the community level, can help improve health and save lives."

World Health Organization director-general Margaret Chan advocated for more global action to improve the provision of primary health care and to search for better ways to distribute healthcare resources. "A world that is greatly out of balance in matters of health is neither stable nor secure," Chan said.

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