New Health Care Model for Nigeria - Assignment Example

New health care model for Nigeria Introduction The troubling of health across the globe continues to hit the unsuspecting populations grounding most of their lives. This troubling state of such a crucial sector of the world continues to draw attention of the policy makers, business leaders, and health experts. These various stakeholders in the industry combine their efforts to establish viable reforms and structures for creating sustainable and effective health systems (Thomas, 2008). The issue is greatest within the confines of developing countries. The state of health in developing countries raises concerns, reaching the World Health Organization as emergent trends that need fast redress. It is in this call from the developing countries and the various stakeholders in the health sector that as medical practitioners and professionals; alongside partnerships of other stakeholders such as the communities in those areas, the policy makers, local authorities, and business leaders that we seek to establish new models of care in Nigeria, as a developing country. Background Information Diversity is a challenge within the health and social care systems of the world. The hospital as a public place services multitudes of people from diverse cultural backgrounds, creating the need to accommodate the factor of diversity in every new model of care (Diller, 2011). Particularly, with the selected case where this new health model will serve, that is Nigeria, there are over 50 different communities, all distributed across the country, especially in the urban settlements (Okehie-Offoha, 2006). The tiers of healthcare in Nigeria incorporate three levels, the federal, state and local governments. The country initiated several developments recently within the health care system, including incorporating a national insurance policy, policies regarding the availability and distribution of drugs and medical equipment, financing for the health care systems, partnerships among others. The entire developments align with the millennium development goals, in which the country aims to attain safe, sufficient, and effective healthcare system for her people. The cultural diversity in Nigeria incorporates several factors including differences in the origins of the people, their dressing, languages, art and traditional practices among many others. Particularly, the Kaduna State in the northern section of the country is among the symbols in Nigeria with remarkably vast sub-political entities. It has over fifteen tribes, with the majority of the minority groups in Nigeria located within this state (Okehie-Offoha, 2006). The health care system in this section of the country consists of scanty hospital facilities, despite the area being among the developed section of the country. There is a county level hospital, as well as, several local authority hospitals in the state. Further, there are private hospital facilities, all which work within this diversely populated state serving the people with the essential facilities of health and social care services. Thus, my new model of healthcare system will specifically feature addressing the health needs of this section of Nigerian people. Further, in developing the healthcare system, I realize the vast diversity in geopolitical stratifications and cultural attributes including language, social practices, technological advancements, policies and professionalism among other factors. The healthcare model will seek to service these communities with excellent services, caring for all sections and needs of the people, irrespective of their diverse cultures, gender and ages. The Health Care Model Facility In responding to the health concerns within the country, this model care system will seek to incorporate several sectors that determine the establishment of effective and efficient health and social care facilities. The health system will comprise the framework involving all the stakeholders in the sector. As a public serving health system, the model will ensure monitoring of the health status to identify and solve the health problems of the community. It will ensure diagnoses and investigation of health problems and hazards within the community (Thomas, 2008). Further, it will constitute programs for educating, informing, and empowering the people about various health issues. The system also will feature initiatives to mobilize community partnerships in identifying and solving the health problems of the people. In dealing with the geo-political factors, the system will facilitate the formulation of policies and plans that support various individual and community health efforts. The model will also work in concurrence with existing policy and guidelines to enforce laws and conventions that guard health and ensure the safety within the health and social care facilities. Additionally, the system will link people to the much needed personalized health and social care services, assuring the provision of care where other systems never reached. With respect to the working force, the system seeks to facilitate and assure service from the competent public and personal medical and social care professionals. Further, to ascertain the achievement of objectives and guidelines as set by the system, the new model provides procedures for evaluating effectiveness, accessibility and quality of both personal and population-based health and social care services (Rodrigues, 2010). Moreover, the system will continually research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems, addressing the current and future developments in the sector. Thus, this health system will incorporate a comprehensive, an inclusive health, and social care services Nigeria, fostering the health sector to greater heights of success. Essential factors considered within the care facility The primary stakeholders in facilitating the services as the new model projects are the healthcare professionals. The country currently experiences shortage of medical professionals and staff. However, to alleviate the issue, this model proposes partnerships with education institution that offer medical training to source for new talents in the sector. Additionally, the possibility of outsourcing for professionals from outside is also applicable in ensuring qualified professionals serve the people needing care. Further, the existing professionals will receive further sponsored training to increment their skills in facilitating quality services (Spector, 2009). This will increase their proficiency in serving the people from all perspectives, irrespective of the cultural and geopolitical diversity. Another sector for establishing that the new model aims to engage is facilities and supplies. The trends in the pharmaceutical industry continue to affect the costs and rates of supply of drugs to the medical facilities. However, with this model, through the objectives of establishing partnerships, it will advocate for the formation of partnerships with suppliers to facilitate the provision of supplies readily to the facilities. Additionally, in building the facility and equipping them accordingly, through the various financing procedures, it set funding for acquiring equipment and other facilities necessary for the successful operation of the medical facilities (Rodrigues, 2010). Further, the community will also contribute significantly in the establishment and development of the health facilities through the various programs and initiatives of the health system that involve them in service delivery to the people. Technology, today, is the driving force of every industry. Similarly, within the health sector, technology contributes significantly in achieving effective and quality services for the people. Thus, this model, s it seeks to ensure quality service to the community, various technological developments will apply. In medical facilities, technology will apply accordingly including the newest models of treatment equipment, such as machines for diagnosis, therapy, monitoring, laboratory and treatment of the patients. Further, the technology will incorporate aspects such medical informational technology, including features of providing medical and hospital informatics systems for managing records and information, telemedicine, home care methods as well as e-health for offering educational content on health practices to the community. These technological adaptations as the model proposes for the facilities will receive a significant boost from the existing technological changes within the country, which form a better platform for growth of medical and health facility technology. Technology speeds the accessibility to information and better service delivery to the people (Australian National Health Informatics Conference, Maeder & Martin, 2012). The public health ministry in the country initiated a strategic approach that aimed to ensure availability of sufficient infrastructure for every federal, state, and local health facility. Infrastructure is a fundamental objective for this new model in facilitating quality and effective health and social care facilities. The proposed system will ensure the incorporation of sufficient funding and plans to expand the existing facilities and establish other infrastructural developments for better health care (Johnson & Stoskopf, 2010). Moreover, with participation of the community and allied stakeholders, the infrastructure, including boarding facilities and accommodation as well as buildings and settings within the health facilities will receive notable face-lift to meet expected standards. The success of such a comprehensive system of healthcare is the implementation process. For the actualization of this model, financing is a critical factor for consideration. Recent developments within the financial industry raise worries over the rates of inflation in the country. Nigeria as a growing country faces various financial challenges. However, irrespective of these factors, the model has a strategic plan that incorporates the financing from both public and private sectors jointly. Privatizing health care will incorporate aspects of competency as the stakeholders will seek to gain profits. Therefore, their investments into public health will help boost the system accordingly (Thomas, 2008). Further, the public financing structures will continue making significant financial contributions for the success of the system. With respect to payment methods, the traditional fee-for-service structure remains the preferred choice within the operations of various health facilities. However, this system leads to increased costs and reduced quality. Thus, this model seeks to introduce alternative methods incorporating bundled payments, which incorporates paying fixed amount for services expected of the patient to receive within given period. However, these two systems of payment will run concurrently to facilitate options for the consumers. Public health incorporates all the initiatives the model proposes for the development of the community and person centered approaches to health care. Public health initiatives as proposed by this model incorporate the development of policies to govern the initiation of quality services of care (Spector, 2009). Further, the new model initiatives will devote centers to the study of public health to enhance knowledge and innovate better strategies for addressing the health concerns of the communities it will be serving. The participation of the community among other stakeholders in the strategic delivery of health and social care services is also a measure for consideration. Cultural competency within a multi-cultural system as Nigeria presents may prove remarkably challenging. Barriers such as beliefs, practices and language may hinder the delivery of quality care to the communities. However, with the system seeking to serve all people of the country, incorporation of strategies to enhance cultural competency is essential. The approach to addressing cultural competency is to shape patient-centered service within the health care system. Thus, this model presents patient-centered approaches that seek to address the cultural concerns (Thomas, 2008). Further, the incorporation of community education systems to equip the communities with health knowledge will aid in preparing them for collaboration and acceptance of the new model care system. Additionally, the staff will also have skills to incorporate measures of handling cultural challenges as they come ensuring delivery of quality service to the community. In the health system, there are sections of social care that require skilled and specialized treatment procedures. These sections are the end-of-life care and mental health. The new health system model comes into the country with structured approaches to the facilitation of end-of-life care and mental health services. The system presents options of patient-centered approaches, which incorporate care at the medical facility and home (Johnson & Stoskopf, 2010). The healthcare system presents service with touching approach to the community and sensitive care for matters that the cultural diversity of Nigeria may complicate due to myths and misconceptions. The African people are largely mythical, relying significantly on beliefs and practices that have no medical basis (Spector, 2009). Thus, the sections of palliative care for the terminally ill and aged in some sections of the community may face limitations, however, with practical approaches such as information provision for the people to understand the essence of care for such people. Thus, the new model of care addresses the various key factors that affect the delivery of quality healthcare service to the people of Nigeria. Conclusion The model presents a detailed explanation of the services it brings to the people, and procedure for addressing the expectations of the assorted stakeholders. Addressing the cultural and geopolitical diverse issues in the health sector, this system aims to improve both patient treatment outcomes and experiences within the care facilities. Moreover, the system also facilitates care services that incorporate participation of the community it will serve accordingly, leading the health sector of the country towards effective and efficient service delivery in health and social care. References Australian National Health Informatics Conference, Maeder, A., & Martin-Sanchez, F. J. (2012). Health Informatics: Building a healthcare future through trusted information ; selected papers from the 20th Australian National Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2012). Amsterdam: IOS Press Inc. Diller, J. V. (2011). Cultural diversity: A primer for the human services. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Johnson, J. A., & Stoskopf, C. H. (2010). Comparative health systems: Global perspectives. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Okehie-Offoha, M. U. (2006). Ethnic & cultural diversity in Nigeria. Trenton, N.J: Africa World Press. Rodrigues, J. (2010). Health information systems: Concepts, methodologies, tools and applications. Hershey PA: Medical Information Science Reference. Spector, R. E. (2009). Cultural diversity in health & illness. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall. Thomas, R. K. (2008). Health services planning. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. 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