This archive report was first published on 10 October 2021.
With the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) within reach, countries are focusing on preventive measures to ensure sustained good healthcare for their citizens. It has become increasingly clear that treating cases as they arise is more costly than preventing them in the first place.
According to Jayesh Saini, educating people on healthy lifestyles is a good start, but some diseases are very subtle and can go undetected for a long time. He emphasizes the need for screening for certain diseases through all medical covers, whether public or private insurance.
Screening for high blood pressure and cholesterol levels can help prevent cardiac arrest or strokes, reducing the need for expensive treatments like angioplasty. Early detection of cancer through screening can also increase the chances of survival with better health results.
Random screening of blood sugar can help detect signs of diabetes, allowing for interventions that can reverse the condition in some cases. Screening for depression should also be a priority, especially among populations dealing with stressful occupations or those caring for loved ones with severe chronic conditions.
While it may not be practical to screen the entire population at once, priorities should be made based on prone populations for disease groups. Governments should encourage and incentivize health facilities that provide free screening services to the communities they serve.
Public facilities should also be identified and utilized to offer screening services at reduced rates or for free, depending on who can afford it.
