Healthcare in Developing Countries

Developing countries are nations that don’t have a developed industrial base, whilst also having a low Human Development Index. This is measured in relation to other countries, though there isn’t a clear agreement in place as to which countries fall under this category.

Typically speaking, developing countries are aided by non-profit organizations that have been established in developed countries. These provide support in many forms, particularly financially as people tend to donate money to these appeals in aid of developing countries. There are upwards of 1.5 million non-profit organizations in the US alone, whilst charities in other areas of the world are also in full swing such as ILM in the UK.

One of the key areas that charities focus on is the healthcare sector in developing countries. This is because inhabitants of these countries often suffer from treatable illnesses, and sometimes die, due to a lack of resources. So, what is the current state of the healthcare system within developing countries?

The Differences Between Healthcare in Developed and Developing Countries

The term healthcare covers all forms of restoration of human life in both a physical and mental capacity. It relates to both preventative and treatment measures that need to be put in place to ensure the wellbeing of patients. Usually, a developing country relies on agriculture to improve its socioeconomic position, meaning that healthcare infrastructures are seriously lacking.

Developed countries are equipped to provide the majority of their citizens with a healthy life in a safe environment. This means that these nations have an increased life expectancy, a high Human Development Index, good healthcare, better infrastructures, and a high education level. On the other hand, developing countries have limited access to healthcare, weak infrastructure, high mortality rates, high birth rates, and lower education rates.

Depending on the political and economic situation, the healthcare situation of each developing country will differ. Despite this, each of them lacks facilities that are typically readily available in the developed world.

Challenges in Developing Countries

Developing Countries Are Nations That Don’t Have A Developed Industrial Base, Whilst Also Having A Low Human Development Index

There are many challenges that stand in the way of developing countries attaining adequate healthcare on an economic, political, cultural, and social scale. For example, there is often a huge divergence between the cost and quality of the outcome of the service. Healthcare services in the developing world are hugely expensive and the cost doesn’t match the quality of treatment for many patients.

Additionally, each nation has an allotted budget assigned to their healthcare programs; since developing countries are more prone to epidemics, certain infections and diseases will receive more attention than others. These countries are more susceptible to epidemics as they’re not able to put measures in place to prevent the spread of infection. As a result, uncommon diseases will often be neglected as the healthcare services are not equipped to treat them.

Another problem that developing countries face is the lack of healthcare professionals and medical personnel. Education is not a given in the developing world; not only are millions unable to afford the education costs but many are forced out of education into child labor to make ends meet. Therefore, inhabitants of developing nations are unable to undergo the necessary training to make their way into the healthcare sector.

Furthermore, many developing countries have an aging population which puts strain on the healthcare systems. It’s unavoidable that older people will require more medical treatment, as their bodies are not fit enough to fight off infections themselves.

These are just a few of the many problems that the developing world faces when it comes to the h

Hot this week

Medtronic Expands AiBLE Spine Surgery Ecosystem with New Technologies and Siemens Healthineers Partnership

New advancements in the AiBLE Spine Surgery ecosystem build upon the company's commitment to procedural innovation and execution

Axlab, Danish Medtech Pioneer, expands to US with Advanced Robotic Tissue Sectioning for Pathology Laboratories

Kris Rokke, National Sales Director for Axlab in the US. "My team and I are extremely excited and honored about this unique opportunity to also offer this advanced technology to labs across the US and thus contribute to the pathology labs of tomorrow."

Spartan Medical Broadens Single-Use Sterile Instrument Portfolio to Improve Outcomes, Increase Efficiency, and Generate Cost Savings

Spartan Medical products portfolio of single-use, sterile med tech includes micro and minor surgical convenience kits, kerrison rongeurs, spinal and general surgical retractors, dural repair kits, synthetic biologics, and a wide range of orthopedic pre-sterilized implants and devices.

Recor Medical Supports European Society of Cardiology’s Hypertension Guidelines

Record Medical notes the new guidelines, "2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension," have been published online and recommend the consideration of renal denervation (RDN) as a safe and effective treatment option for patients who have uncontrolled resistant hypertension or those that have uncontrolled hypertension with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, who express a preference to undergo RDN.

ConTIPI Medical Selects EVERSANA to Support U.S. Commercialization of Non-Surgical Medical Device ProVate for Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

EVERSANA is a leading provider of global commercial services to the life sciences industry, to support commercialization for the ProVate device in the United States to help women experiencing pelvic organ prolapse.