Global disparities in access to quality health care are not new, but their seemingly entrenched nature cannot be a cause for complacency. Somewhat paradoxically, every new medical breakthrough splashed across front pages and television screens of developed economies increases disparities as health care systems in low- and middle-income struggle to acquire and implement new technologies and … [Read more...]
Life expectancy: How can we address uneven declines?
Not long ago, during pre-pandemic 2019, the reported life expectancy at birth for non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic populations was approximately 75, 79, and 82 years, respectively. The higher life expectancy of Hispanic people compared to others in the United States may come as a surprise to some. This phenomenon, known as the “Hispanic paradox,” was first noted in the … [Read more...]
About 46 million Americans can’t afford quality health care, according to Gallup
Quality health care is unaffordable for an estimated 46 million Americans, according to a new study from Gallup and health care research firm West Health. A web survey of 3,753 adults living in all 50 U.S. states conducted from Feb. 15-21 via the Gallup Panel, a research panel built to be representative of the entire U.S. population, indicated that an estimated 46 … [Read more...]
Black Patients Often Treated at Hospitals With Poorer Safety Records: Report
Compared with white patients, Black adults are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to hospital safety in the United States, a new report warns. Black patients are significantly less likely to gain access to "high-quality" hospitals, an Urban Institute analysis found. As a result, they're much more likely to undergo surgical procedures in facilities with relatively poor safety … [Read more...]
What Happens When People Stop Going to the Doctor? We’re About to Find Out
A year of missed preventive medical care is endangering minority communities. - Dr Wayne A.I. Frederick The coronavirus pandemic has yet to end, but we are already beginning to feel the aftershocks. Even as thousands of Americans continue to die of Covid-19 every day, many people are suffering from serious health problems unrelated to the virus because their health care has been disrupted. … [Read more...]