Every year April 7th is celebrated around the world as World Health Day. Never has this day been more important than it is right now. As many are wishing for the day that life is back to normal or the day we can shed our masks and take a deep breath again, it is important to focus on some of the inadequacies in healthcare around the world that the COVID-19 pandemic has helped bring attention to.
World Health Day is brought to us by the World Health Organization (WHO) and this year they are stressing their goal of eliminating health inequities in the world. The campaign highlights WHO’s primary principle that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”1
While these inequities have improved over the years, the gap is still there and still noticeable. COVID-19 brought these faults to the surface as it ravaged communities that did not have access to proper quality health care services, leaving them completely exposed and vulnerable. While many assume this is only an issue in developing countries, it is closer than we think and is something not to be dismissed. According to some recent studies, while many improvements are being made to the overall health of the country, many racial and ethnic minorities are still experiencing a lower quality of healthcare and face higher rates of morbidity and mortality while also being less likely to receive routine medical care than non-minorities. 2
With so many amazing progressions occurring every day in the healthcare and life science industries, it is time we strategize. This is the year that we all need to come together and support our frontline healthcare workers as they fight to shrink this healthcare gap. We thank those who are creating accessible devices and drugs to help equalize the healthcare industry. At EMMA International we know sometimes the hardest part is getting started – do you have a medical device or product you need help getting to market? Give us a call today at 248-987-4497 or email us at info@emmainternational.com.
1World Health Organization (April 2021) World Health Day 2021 retrieved on 4/1/2021 from: www.who.int/westernpacific/news/events/detail/2021/04/07/western-pacific-events/world-health-day-2021.
2American Medical Association (n.d.) Reducing Disparities in Health Care retrieved on 4/1/2021 from: www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/patient-support-advocacy/reducing-disparities-health-care.
