Ensure health care for all

WORLD Health Day falls on April 7 and the UN is calling on countries to fulfil their pledges on universal health coverage.
This means individuals and communities receive the health services they require without falling into financial hardship.
This year's theme is "Health for All". The UN says nearly half of the world's population does not have access to essential health services, while 100 million people have fallen into extreme poverty simply because of health expenses.
Universal health coverage doesn't mean free health services. It's about finding solutions that work for a country's context and its people's needs. There's no one size fits all.
But that could precisely be why so many countries struggle to find a solution that works.
The interconnected world we live in requires interlaced health services, and that's where the biggest challenge lies. The influx in people migration, whether due to conflict, disaster or opportunity, means countries have to work together to provide universal healthcare for all.
It really is a tall order, if you think about it. Malaysia's national healthcare system is said to be on par with some of the world's best. At the same time, private healthcare is flourishing and medical tourism is playing a bigger role than ever.
Yet in the midst of this, there are stories of families crunching through their savings, assets and resources to pay for a family member's expensive treatment or extended hospital stays.
Foreign workers, especially those without insurance or company benefits, can end up with bills twice their annual income when seeking treatment here.
Against this backdrop, universal health coverage seems like a distant reality.
The UN is adamant that such a reality is possible, however, and I'm inclined to agree. It's knowing where our starting blocks are, and these differ for each country. I believe Malaysia has the resources, talent and skills to continue advancing its healthcare system to achieve universal health coverage.
It demands investments in health and human capital. All of us need to put our heads together. By all of us, I mean the government, lawmakers, the pharmaceutical industry, medical equipment and implant companies, healthcare providers at every level, and the people.
As Malaysians, nearly all of us have access to healthcare. Some can afford private health services, but most of us rely on government hospitals and clinics. If we are serious about helping Malaysia play its part in achieving universal health coverage, what can we do?
First, I believe we can do our part to understand the state of healthcare in Malaysia before forming loud opinions. We are experts at complaining and fault-finding, but often without fully comprehending the context in which these expectations lie.
Second, we can advocate access to healthcare services for all. Usually the ones who live without access are those whose voices are not heard, such as the poor, marginalised, refugees and migrant workers. Support medical practitioners who volunteer their time to be part of mobile clinics, donate to health projects and build awareness.
Systemic change takes time, and while we wait for national and global healthcare systems to fall into place, we can help the system we live in. Universal health coverage must be our goal, for no one should be expected to suffer simply to survive.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com