Why Would Inequities in Health Increase?

Why would inequities in Health Increase?

Introduction

A substantial segment of population is fully cognizant of the inequities that we are experiencing our society today. There are inequities that are happening which root from race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, gender and cultural beliefs. But the most alarming with regards to inequities is the inequities in health. Health inequity refers simply to the uneven distribution of health in or between populations (Reidpath and Allotey, 2007).

Health is a very important aspect of our existence. Health plays a major role in shaping our everyday life. Our activity of daily lives depends on our health and well-being. If our health is not in good condition, we are affected physically, emotionally, psychologically and socially. Good health therefore is one of the most essential parts of a person's life. Health care services should be delivered to each and everyone with no hindrance or obstacle. No race, ethnicity, religion, gender and cultural beliefs discrimination. And as well as the type of sickness the person are experiencing. People got sick and health care providers should accept it no matter what.

People from different race, ethnic groups, religious affiliations, poor, members of the third sex and those with different cultures and norms are the most hit by this inequities is health. HIV patients are awkward to seek treatment because of fear of rejection. Health care should be a right for everyone, not a privilege like what is happening right now as the writer sees it. It should be delivered equally to everyone who needs it. They should get it especially when they are unable to meet their own health care needs. For the writer's view is a "health care denied is no health care at all". So why would inequities in health increase? This writing tackles about the inequities in health in New Zealand and some part of the world that are greatly affected by the topic.

In New Zealand

There are different nationalities living in New Zealand. Some are from Europe and Asia. Majority of the residence are the white New Zealander. There are also from neighboring islands of New Zealand and the Oceana. Minority group of New Zealand are the ones that the Australian called aborigines, their native inhabitants. In New Zealand the aborigines are the Maoris. They are the minority, sad but true. In a 2002 publications says that, "racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive a lower quality of health care than non minorities, even when patients' insurance status and income are controlled ". (Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, 2002). This is a classic example of racial discrimination.

This could find the reader rather unacceptable because Maoris are the first inhabitant of New Zealand and yet they are treated as minorities. Maoris sometimes may choose not to seek needed services for fear of being misunderstood or disrespected. Language and trust also has an effect on health because sometimes patients may not adhere to medical advice because they do not understand or do not trust the provider (Unequal Treatment, 2002). Article 3 has an important social significance in the implicit assurance that social rights would be enjoyed equally by Maori with all New Zealand citizens of whatever origin (Article 3: Treaty of Waitangi). Article 3 provision is very clear. But it is not being practice. Maoris are receiving lesser attention compare to other New Zealanders.

Anyone could really notice the inequities in health in Queen Street in Auckland NZ. Maoris are sleeping on the pavement, asking for spare coins from people walking by. It is understood that NZ government are giving subsidies to this people but it only caters for their selected basic needs like monetary for their food. One would notice their appearance, heavy and filthy. They could be suffering already from cardiovascular diseases and some other metabolic disorder without a single soul noticing it. They are not digging into deeper needs specially health.

Economic recession in New Zealand

New Zealand entered a period of economic recession in early 2008, intensified by the global economic crisis of September 2008. Unemployment rates have risen and remain the highest seen since the last recession in 1997-1998 (Mills C., 2010). Economic status of an individual has an effect on the access to health care. If a person is unemployed, the means of getting a better health care service is low, especially in New Zealand wherein citizens should consult with the GP's to be referred to the hospital for further treatment. (The system is violated only in times of emergencies where patients could go directly to hospitals emergency department for appropriate care). Unemployed individual would chose not to consult GP's to save their depleting bank savings or cash on hand for future much more important use. And this could result to further health threat in a more foreseeable future. This is just one of the many effects of economic status that results to health inequities of an individual or family that are affected by economic recession.

Inequities in health have the potential to increase during this current economic downturn (Mills C. on Tobias et al. 2010). Economic recession not only affects the individual due to unemployment but also the government as a whole. The government cannot function without the fuel that runs their machines, taxes. If the economy of a certain country is weak, so is the collection of taxes. These could hamper the delivery of services to the population by the government. Delivery of services includes health. And in times of recession only people with money could afford better health services because they have the money to spend. And they are given priority. And people with lesser money had to endure the inequities in health.

Inequities in other country

It is not just the country of NZ that experiencing inequities is health. In third world countries like the Philippines also have health inequities amongst its citizens. The main reason of this is due to poverty.