After observing the Ebola outbreak crises in West Africa, Michaud and Kates have concluded that the global health policymaking is in a fog (Michaud & Kates, 2014). Policymaking is a major challenge in the global health today. In most cases, severe outbreaks of epidemics around the world indicate gaps in the global health policy.
Vague, time-delayed estimates
Policymaking relies on timely and robust data for effective decision-making. In most cases, however, such timely, robust data are not available. As a result, policymakers tend to use time-delayed estimates for decision-making, which often do not yield expected outcomes.
For instance, the recent observed case of Ebola crisis has shown that delivering personnel, supplies and services where they are most needed have become much more difficult due to availability of “only vague and time-delayed estimates for some of the core epidemiological aspects of the current outbreak” (Michaud & Kates, 2014).
It has been difficult to determine the exact number of infected and affected people, areas worst hit by epidemic outbreaks, specific locations with increasing or declining cases of new infections, the rate of transmission and potential number of people who remain at risk of contracting new infections.
Michaud and Kates (2014) have attributed these issues partly to a lack of critical data and poor surveillance capabilities in many countries that experience health crises. In addition, there are also observed rapid changes and chaotic prevailing situations on the ground.
Distrusts, myths and a lack of coordination among agencies
The US CDC and the WHO have done their best to provide the global community with some authoritative data, situational updates and projections.
However, some governments have not appreciated such efforts. For instance, the Liberian President has insisted that the US and UN Ebola forecasts are wrong and asserted that the epidemic is stabilizing (Lewis, 2014). The WHO tends to account for all unreported, uncounted and undetected cases in their estimates.
Clearly, there is a lack of coordination among various agencies involved in the global health crises. A lack of coordination has affected service delivery in the worst hit areas.
The global health community requires coordination among “governmental Ministries of Health, non-governmental organizations, multilateral institutions and aid agencies in rural and urban areas that are spread out across multiple countries” (Michaud & Kates, 2014).
The distrust that exists between governments and global health agencies is responsible for poor global health policy formulation and responses.
Knowledge about certain viruses and epidemics remain low. While several global agencies have enhanced their efforts to understand various epidemics, their causes and mechanisms of transmission, findings remain poorly understood on the ground. For instance, there are anecdotal reports, which show that armed people have attacked quarantined locations in West Africa and freed Ebola infected people.
A lack of sufficient knowledge could negatively hinder any progresses on combating serious cases of epidemics. Therefore, controlling such outbreaks require individuals in high-risk locations to understand how epidemics spread and how they might contract them. In addition, they should be able to recognize various symptoms and reduce chances of new infections.
Equally relevant is the need to enhance awareness campaigns and reduce cases of myths and misinformation about epidemics. In most cases, lack of sufficient information escalates fear and causes irrational behaviors among people in affected locations.
Recruitment of qualified personnel, volunteers and poor health infrastructures
The global health policies have failed to address the lack of health infrastructures, particularly in poor countries. In most situations, the global health community is desperate for help when epidemics spread fast and death tolls surge.
The responses to global health crises have been reactive rather than proactive. For instance, the WHO and West African presidents launched a campaign to raise funds as a part of an “intensified international, regional and national campaign to bring the outbreak under control” (Gharib, 2014). In response to such initiatives, various countries responded with aid in various forms.
The UK Government pledged to construct a 700-bed hospital in Sierra Leone (Phillip, 2014). The US and other countries have sent military personnel, doctors and other experts to construct healthcare facilities and coordinate logistics by delivering help to agencies on the ground.
While some of these efforts could have immediate impacts, others outcomes of these efforts could take several months or years to be felt. Meanwhile, such epidemics continue to spread rapidly with severe consequences to humanity.
It is difficult to recruit qualified personnel and volunteers to combat global health crises as demonstrated by the Ebola case in West Africa (Phillip, 2014). The situation creates the frightening view of the current global health policy.
Countries’ global health policies
The world has recognized its failure in developing effective health policies. Consequently, various stakeholders, including governments, policymakers, media, business leaders, and other institutions have increasingly shown their support during global health crises. Specifically, substantial funding, donor support, new institutions and community-led initiatives have grown to address such crises in poor and emerging economies.
The US has remained the most active and largest fund provider and implementer of global health programs worldwide. It is involved at different stages, for instance, there are government departments and agencies, Congressional committees, initiatives and funding streams to support global health.
In addition, the US is engaged in “multi-pronged, multi-billion dollar investments that focus on a myriad of global health challenges, countries, and stakeholders”. Hence, it has a complex global health response plan.
While the US has such a clear policy in addressing the global health crises, perhaps other developed and emerging economies lack similar policies. The failure by countries to develop effective global health support policies has affected responses to worst health crises in the world. Governments, therefore, require such policies in place to mitigate global health challenges.
Conclusion
The current global health policy has created a complex task in any situation, which has been made even more challenging as emerging health crises spread so far so quickly. Hence, it is a major challenge and a wake-up call for the global health community to review its current policies.
There is a need to gather data. Health agencies and states need to collect reliable data on a timely basis and eliminate the use of crude estimates and trajectories. Currently, the global health community has to rely on such data for decision-making.
While data show expected outcomes, poor coordination and a lack of trust among various agencies have affected rapid responses and service delivery in affected countries. Data should create incentive for all stakeholders to respond effectively in order to contain such global health crises.
Countries need to develop their global health policy programs. Such programs should be creative and multifaceted to account for several elements of global health concerns.
References
Gharib, M. (2014). How the global health community is responding to Ebola. Web.
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2013). The U.S. Government Engagement in Global Health: A Primer. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation.
Lewis, D. (2014). Ebola stabilizing in Liberia, doomsday forecasts wrong – president. Reuters. Web.
Michaud, J., & Kates, J. (2014). Measuring the Impact of Ebola: Will it Reach 1.4 Million? Web.
Phillip, A. (2014). Aid organizations are ‘desperate’ for help with Ebola as death toll surges past 3,300. The Washington Post. Web.