Health Care Policy Change

Health Care Policy Change • Current nursing issues related to globalization of healthcare The term ‘globalization’ has been used in the description of increasing social and economic interdependence among and between countries (Bradbury-Jones & Clark, 2017). The shifting disease and health patterns have been linked to globalization. Global health means the health issues that are not geographically contained and that no one country can handle them alone (Bradbury-Jones & Clark, 2017).

As an answer to the global issues of health and globalization itself nurses have had to practice their profession in the context of emerging and new transnational situations (Bradbury-Jones & Clark, 2017). For this reason nurses have to proactively respond to the dynamic global changes and comprehend the consequences of globalization on health. In this era of healthcare globalization, it is necessary to underscore the positive changes in biotechnology and communication (Da Silva, 2008). Globalization, however, seems to have more negatives on the health of the poorer populations globally.

This is because poverty is associated more with health expectations and conditions (Da Silva, 2008). It is important to mention that close to 2.8 billion people out of the approx. 6 billion people globally live under $2 each day. Another 1.2 billion people live with under $1 every day. Of all the people living in poverty 44% of them are found in Southern Asia (World Bank, 2012). Owing to these facts 90% of global diseases are accounted for by the poor countries. This said the poor countries only command less than 10% global healthcare resources (Da Silva, 2008).

This is evident in the slow development of the poor countries because of the poor health and loss of life for the productive young people. African children who are less than 5 years have seven times greater chances of dying than children from Europe. In similar manner people aged between 15 years and 59 years of age from Africa have a 4.5 times higher chance of dying than the people living in Europe. Maternal mortality in Africa is 16 times more than Europe (World Health Organization, 1999).

Transnational trade is one of the major risks to global health. This is because globalization through transnational trading has led to increased spread of disease (Da Silva, 2008). Hepatitis B and other viruses can be transmitted internationally through transnational blood product trade. The trade of food products, disease variation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob and bovine spongiform encephalopathy are other ways diseases can be transmitted internationally (Da Silva, 2008). Environmental harm due to the unsustainable industrial actions of the developed nations is another negative impact of globalization.

Environmental harm has resulted to depreciation of the social quality of the environment hence greatly affecting the health of the people (Da Silva, 2008). These consequences have a great meaning to the Advance Practice Registered Nurse because the profession has to participate in the making of some strategic program to contain the negative consequences of globalization on healthcare. The growing rate of urbanization supported by industrial development and economic growth has brought change to the political, economic and social spheres of the society and resulted to more healthcare risks.

The outcome of urbanization is negative impact on health of the people especially because of the risk associated with increased communicable diseases and worsening problems relating to the social violence and disintegration. Good health is dependent on health investment and health policies (Milstead & Short, 2019). Technology, techniques, education and ideas also influence healthcare outcomes. The developing countries have little investment in education and health due to the lack of professional human resources and financial abilities that would make it possible for them to participate in international healthcare decision making platforms.

Globalization has far reaching consequences on healthcare. The nursing community would have to do much more in trying to bridge the professional gap occasioned by globalization • The proposed policy change: Access to quality healthcare One of the global healthcare policy issues that must change in light of globalization is the pricing of prescription drugs. It is a known fact that the healthcare industry is a booming commercial industry.

While commercial interests are important to keep the private sector engaged in healthcare issues oftentimes pharmaceuticals and other medical utilities have been overpriced for economic ends without paying particular attention to affordable global healthcare. Overall the cost of accessing healthcare both in developing and developed economies has become increasingly unaffordable. It is important to have policy interventions that will introduce affordable healthcare insurance in developing countries and affordable prescription drugs for all.

The commercialization of healthcare has defeated the ethical requirement for nursing practitioners to provide healthcare to every person who is in need. Many people cannot afford costly processes like chemotherapy, dialysis, and cancer treatment due to the high costs of treatment and medication (McCracken & Phillips, 2017). In light of the escalating cost of healthcare it is important to have a standard policy regulating the pharmaceutical industry in order to make sure that drugs are not overpriced.

The World Health Organization should engage every nation on Earth through global healthcare forums with an intention of coming up with standard commercial policies regulating the healthcare industry. With regulation defining the capping and limitations on the amount of profits that the pharmaceutical industry is allowed to make then there is a good chance that the cost of healthcare will be containable.

• Agenda setting strategies (Process by which your proposal will gain attention of stakeholders and/or the public) In order to ignite the debate and set a path for making a solid policy on the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry the best route would be through lobbying for global support through the World Health Organization and the United Nations. Through the support of these two global entities it will be possible to get the unsolicited support of most developing and developing countries.

Some resistance is expected from the countries that earn revenue through taxing the multinational pharmaceutical industries domiciled in their countries. Vested interests may limit the outcome of the process but there is a good chance that most developing countries will be onboard to support the push for global policies governing the pharmaceutical industry.

• A model or theory that can be used to bring about the change The Kingdon model is one of the theoretical paths that can be employed to popularize the issue and cause it to culminate into a sound global policy (Milstead & Short, 2019). The first step would be to increase the attention of the global community through the problem, stream then engage the global political players through the political stream.

The other stage would involve provoking consensus that certain aspects of the pharmaceutical industry need to be regulated through the policy stream (Buse, Mays & Walt, 2012). During the windows stream the problems bedeviling the pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare industry in general will converge hence resulting into some public policy making.

• Design strategies The strategy here is to do a comprehensive research and come up with evidence to the effect that the pharmaceutical industry is to blame for the expensive prescription drugs in the market due to abnormal margins and unrealistic profits made by the industry owners. The next level will be designing the issues and coming up with policy instruments to facilitate in the formulation of a policy statement on pharmaceutical industry commercial regulations.

In designing of issues the primary focus will be highlighting the consequences of regulations for the pharmaceutical industry and the impact this would have in alleviating the unrealistic healthcare costs for low income earners. On the development of policy instruments the focus will be leveraging governance tools available with the world health organization and the UN. The goal is to come up with a global policy through the support of global authorities governing the healthcare industry (World Health Organization, 2005). In this case the individual National and State governments globally.

In order to build capacity to popularize the issue healthcare professionals will be mobilized. By coming up with a singular voice regarding the pharmaceutical industry from healthcare professionals there is a good chance that the issues will be popularized and the problems highlighted in depth (World Health Organization, 2005). The incentive from government will be required to mobilize individual legislative arms of government to come up with sound policy. • Implementation strategies The implementation strategy will entail policymaking and the implementation of those strategies through a conceptual framework.

Assuming that the issue is already popularized and the legislative arms of government are willing to seek a solution. It is at this point that expert advice and proposals will be tabled before the legislature. The formulation of the policy will involve experts in healthcare and the economy. Collaborative efforts from the government, healthcare sector, and the finance sector will be required to make the policy journey a reality. A conceptual framework of implementation will be designed thereafter. The pharmaceutical industry will be required to comply with.