Question

1) How do you think we should prioritize the distribution of global health resources (what diseases/conditions, areas, or populations should we focus on and why)? (at least 200 words).

2)What metric is the best way to determine which disease/condition, area, or population to prioritize? For example, is the DALY (disability-adjusted life year) the best way measurement, or is there something else? (at least 200 words).

Answer 1

1) Priority-setting in any domain is an essential step because of resource limitations. The regular assessment of health needs and their appropriate solutions can be achieved via priority settings. The selection of appropriate tools,methodology, population structure pertaining to health sector is very important step as the population needs and demands needs to be analyzed so that a forecast of the resources could be made practically and this could open up the ways to address the most important health issues. The various health resources which needs to be kept under consideration are resource allocation, budgets, methodology to implement these budgets for betterment of health care.

As per the recent literature survey related to the health priorities, it has been recommended that five below important criteria’s must be selected :

a) Burden of the health issue: Which will include the assessment regarding loss incurred due to various diseases;

b) Effectiveness of the intervention: The suggested intervention must be effective practically to leverage the health status of the targeted populations;

c) Cost of the intervention: The cost involved in the suggested intervention must be affordable and easier one. The economic models must be created so that maximum people are benefitted at the lower investment;

d) Acceptability of the intervention: This involves assessment of the health issues via using comparative qualitative, quantitative data and the interventions so recommended must be acceptable by the targeted populations.

Thus the health priority-setting to tackle the global health issues needs identification of challenging health issues in targeted location/area/country and then to devise the strategies to defeat such challenges including appropriate use of financial resources towards health interventions. The priority health setting can be done either:

Ø Annually, bi-annually or depending upon the need of the hour

Ø As long/medium or short term basis

Ø On different health issues or administrations like providing quick relief, infrastructure development, out-break of any epidemic etc. like the most recent outbreak novel Corona viral disease or any other health challenge.