Healthcare System and Sustainable Development Goals in the United Kingdom

Global Public Health

Table of Contents
SECTION A - Introduction.............................................................................................................3
SECTION B – The main health issue..............................................................................................3
SECTION C - Description of health system in country..................................................................6
SECTION D - Assessing progress country has made in reaching named Sustainable
Development Goal (SDGs)..............................................................................................................8
SECTION E - Advocacy statement...............................................................................................10
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

SECTION A - Introduction
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is commonly called as United
Kingdom or Britain. The country’s current population is 68,482,480 as per worldometer (U.K.
Population (Live), 2022). The WHO region in respect to United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland include England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The life expectancy of
the people of UK are longer. The life expectancy of women is higher than men i.e. 80.5 years
and 75.8 years. At 2030 about 1 of 5 people in UK will be of age of 65 or more (United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2022). In 2017, the maternal mortality ratio for
UK was 7 deaths per 100000 live birth (United Kingdom - Maternal mortality ratio, 2022). The
rate of GDP in UK in 2021 was 6.76% which falls in 2022 and become 5.01%. Likewise, the
health challenges which are present in the UK include the exposure towards alcohol, air
pollution, mental health, obesity issues and various other (Health matters: public health issues,
2022). This may have a direct impact towards the life and wellbeing of individual and people.
Likewise, the people of UK face the health challenges and related issues in relation with the
exposure to bad lifestyle and the exposure towards the bad habits that may include the
consumption of unhealthy food, alcohol as well as smoking habits.
SECTION B – The main health issue
The UK face various health issues that may have a direct impact towards the mortality rate as
well as other aspect of the UK Health system. The major health issues would include:
Communicable disease:
This majorly include the infectious diseases. In case of UK the main and highly impactful
communicable disease would include the Tuberculosis. The vulnerable group of people of UK
who lives in poverty and are marginalised and economically or socially excluded are more
suffered and affected from tuberculosis. The mortality rate that is associated with the
Tuberculosis in UK in 2008-12 shows that 941 males died with TB while the 670 females died as
a result of respirator TB.

Figure 1Respiratory TB mortality ratios by UK regions, males and females, 2008–12
Source: Respiratory tuberculosis (TB) statistics, 2022
From the above graph it is also clear that the TB mortality rate in London is highest
followed by the West Midland and East Midlands. The graph also shows that the rate of TB is
high in case of urban areas like London, Glasgow and Birmingham. In case of Scotland the TB
mortality rate is highest.
The risk factor that is related with the spreading of TB include the close contact with
person infected from TB. Immigration from other places of the world has also raised the TB in
London.
In order to deal with the TB the Government and NHS have taken various steps that may
include the providing of BCG vaccine for adult age under 35 and are at the risk of TB
(Overview, 2022). Irrespective of age the vaccination is also availed among any age people in
UK who have chances of TB.
Non-communicable disease
In case of non-communicable disease, the prevalence of coronary heart disease and stroke
is highly prevalent. The social group which is most affected with the concerned disease is South