Insights from global health conversations

Some global health actors

Have had the good fortune of meeting some people engaged in global health over the last few months.  Some insights:

EB (European health policy).  Indicated some important things that Europe offers us:

• Professional qualifications directive (2005 & 2013): ensures that certification of equivalence is possible for doctors working around Europe.  "Doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, veterinary surgeons and architects benefit from the automatic recognition of their qualifications, on the basis of harmonised minimum training requirements."
• Working time directive (2003): provides a limit to working hours, which must not exceed 48 hours per week on average. 

SM (WHO, Ebola communications)

• WHO is undergoing a significant restructuring recently in the wake of the Ebola crisis; due to limitations in their logistical capacity to respond effectively to the epidemic.  Improving disease surveillance an important feature.

PF (ILO, disability advocacy)

• Maintains a disability blog - some good core messaging, in that access, rehabilitative therapy, and supported employment are some of the main topics advocated on; these being important topics both in the UK as well as in Bangladesh where much of his recent work has been
• Suggests that getting disabled people into work in developing countries is (1) difficult for many reasons, but (2) possible & going on, and (3) can be developed further through small initiatives rather than the huge investment one might anticipate

EO (Orthopaedic surgeon, Kenya)

• Took the view that any international exposure to different functioning healthcare systems is valuable.  
• Particularly helpful to look up and down the chain of how healthcare is delivered with more resources (and hence some of the latest technology), as well as with less resources (and hence using autoclaves, reusable drapes, etc., and cutting out expensive tech like laminar flow in orthopaedic theatres.
• Indicated that some orthopaedic trainees from Kenya when visiting Europe to train find that they have to relearn a lot of the knowledge - it can be demoralising to be taught badly and have to relearn techniques, although satisfying to bring best practice back

CR (MSF, midwife)

• While wealth levels may vary, the same stories play out in communities all over the world - love, children, infidelity, backscratching, festivities.

Samreen (Indian, FY3)

• The social-care delays on hospital discharge in the UK seem almost inexplicable - in India family will take in dischargeable patients, and middle class Indians can recruit cheap labour to their homes to care for ailing relatives - typically by providing them board & lodgings, and making them one of the family