Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to study the main issues related to the delivery of medical services in low- and middle-income countries. During the study, the authors conducted significant work in different sectors of the population of such countries. They interviewed both people in need of assistance and medical workers and social activists. Several problems are common in these countries and require resolution. Among them, an insufficient number of doctors and poor quality of medical services can be noted. Thus, the main expectation of the residents of these countries is the availability and prevalence of quality medicine. This problem is acute, because now the level of medical services in the field of mental health, as in other areas, is quite low. To improve the quality of life of the population, it is necessary to resolve this issue.
Main body
One of the crucial challenges for medical workers is the introduction of the proposed system into the current healthcare system. This requires a long and complex process of training and practice. Researchers propose a model in which medical professionals consult patients together with inexperienced doctors. During the process, the latter learn to work with various types of patients, obtain sufficient knowledge in the required areas, and, after that, can consult patients themselves. The main benefit of this model of cooperation is the higher quality and availability of medical services in low- and middle-income countries. It will allow the doctors to work more efficiently and the patients to get a better result of treatment. Thus, this model is supposed to positively influence the entire health care system as a whole.
However, some complex issues can make changing a healthcare system more complicated. Some of the people surveyed noted that social stigma is a crucial factor for them. This means that when they start looking for help with an existing mental disorder, society draws negative conclusions about them. This makes the process of going to the doctor more psychologically difficult, and often people stop trying to solve their problems. Doctors also have particular preserves that can interfere with patient treatment and learning new things. According to the study, some of them are afraid of poor teaching quality and management errors. Low-quality services of professional doctors can adversely affect both patient treatment and public attitudes towards this area of medicine. Thus, the level of trust in medical workers must be increased by working on their professional and personal qualities.
The research results reflect a wide range of problems and a significant number of solutions. This paper may be helpful for use by health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Firstly, it describes the main problems of mental healthcare noted in these countries. The government needs to be aware of this to know which areas need improvement. Secondly, researchers describe ways to solve these problems, which can also have a positive impact on society. Thirdly, the study compares the results of surveys in different countries. This allows them to consider the issue more broadly, adopting the best aspects of the health systems of other countries and avoiding the worst. Thus, the study enables researchers to fully consider the issue of mental healthcare and various ways to solve related problems.
Conclusion
The paper considers only the problems associated with the prevention and treatment of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries. However, there is a significant layer of issues associated with other areas of the functioning of medicine in these countries. They are related to the cost of medical services, their low quality, and the insufficient number of doctors. There is also the problem of illiteracy among people in the field of health. Residents of these countries may not be aware of potential diseases, their prevention and diagnosis, and the need for treatment. A comprehensive study of these issues can be even more useful for further research in these countries and help develop their health systems.
Reference List
Mendenhall, E., De Silva, M. and Hanlon, C. (2014) ‘Acceptability and feasibility of using non-specialist health workers to deliver mental health care: stakeholder perceptions from the PRIME district sites in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Uganda’, Social Science & Medicine, 118C, pp. 33-42.