Analysis of Social, Political, Environmental Issues in Healthcare

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of social, political, and environmental issues impacting international healthcare, with a specific focus on the UK's healthcare sector. It explores the concept of sustainable development, defining its importance in meeting present needs without compromi...Read More

Social, Political and Environmental
Issues in International Healthcare

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Healthcare sector plays an imperative role in the growth and success of every country. In
order to become competitive, healthcare industry has emerged with various sectors and it is
known as one of the largest service sectors in UK. Its overall revenue is US$ 30 billion that
constitute 6% of UK's GDP. For achieving the sustainable growth and development of nation,
British government has faced several issues and challenges. In addition, it consists with
arrangement of resources that would be utilised in order to meet needs and wants of human
beings; it also involve to preserve environment so that present and future needs can be met in an
effective manner (Baum, 2016). Apart from this, the report will enlighten different issues that
can occur while sustainable development and several theories so as to get over from these.
MAIN BODY
Sustainable development refers to the growth and vitality of a specific area so as to meet
present needs without compromising skills of future generation. It is also known as different
efforts that can be used to build an inclusive and resilient future for society. In addition, its an
impulsive process which facilitates human beings to realise the probable impact by improving
the quality of living standards in distinct ways which are continuously protect the environment.
Along with this, the sustainable Development Strategy of UK is emphasis on providing better
quality of life so that people can live freely. There are different definitions of sustainable
development which agrees that certain features of sustainable development distinguish it from
ordinary evolution and make it more efficient: -
 Generally, it is linked with with the creating social, economic and environmental aims or
objectives at the same time (Williams, 2014). Sustainable development also liable for
building inclusive and resilient future of society. Thus, it means to implement effective
resources instead of coping all of them.
 Viable evolution helps in recognising the future brunts of decisions which can be taken
locally but put a huge impact on global. It also diminishes environmental burden by
protecting environmental resources and save them for future generation.
 At last, sustainable development highly emphasis on involution of societies in decision
making process and its future impact on people life style.
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The viable development strategy of UK emphasises that every individual has right to live
in a flushed and harmless geographical area. It can be attained by eliminating impurity,
impoverishment poor housing and unemployment. Along with this, there are different global
environmental threats like poor air quality, climate changes, etc. They must be reduced in order
to preserve the human health. The sustainable strategy of UK also determines that there is a need
of sound approach regarding energy production, transport and waste management. British
government wants economic growth, although changing the way and focused on social
development is one of the major parts of 2030 agenda.
Impact of sustainable development on healthcare -
Sustainable development plays an imperative in health and social care sector. For
instance – any kind of development in society helps in providing healthy and safe living
environment to people where they can breathe freely. It aids in improving positive healthy of
human being and reduces adverse health impact. Therefore, it can be said that linkage between
health care sector and sustainable development is so strong. As it is assistive in reducing disease
from society and also eliminates the situation of poverty and unemployment in local
communities. Although, the major objective of sustainable development is to gain higher growth
by raising economic condition of the country. With this, people get employment opportunities
and would capable to spend more and more on consuming qualitative goods and services. Such
elements plays a crucial role in quality of life of people. Therefore, it is essential for government
to tackling these aspects of health and as they contribute in sustainable communities, like - Fair
Society and healthy Lives.
The agenda of 2030 for sustainable development: -
The European Union has made a constructive contribution in order to evolve the 2030
agenda regarding sustainable development. The agenda consists itself of 4 sectors, likewise –
British Government has set of 17 sustainable development goals and 169 targets; it also develops
a framework for following up the agenda and means of implementation. Along with this, it
integrates in a well-structured manner; these are major ambits of sustainable development, i.e.
cultural, system and situational (Yin and Zhang, 2012). The agenda of 2030 is indivisible so that
it should be implemented for whole rather than a fragmented manner. It is rely on the core
concept of global partnership and focuses on mobilisation of all forms of regulations. For
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ensuring long term credibility and progress, the transformation 2030 agenda involves review
mechanisms; it allows partners so as to measure the effect of their activities.
However, EU plays a crucial role so as to give shape to 2030 agenda by taking support of
public consultations as well as in depth research. It will be continue for the process so that
British people can move into regulation of this ambitious and universal agenda. On the other
hand, the 2030 agenda also encompasses various issues like – good governance, effective
institutions, peaceful societies and the rule of law. In order to evaluate the progress of Agenda
2030, EU is divided into SDGs and MDGs. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by
having 169 objectives are much wider in scope instead of MDGs by demonstrating main reasons
behind poorness and the worldwide need for evolution that serve for all people. The goals
captures the three magnitudes of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion
and environmental protection.
MDGs SDGs
8 Goals 17 goals
18 targets 169 targets
48 indicators 231 indicators
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(Source: A New Dawn: SDGs, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015)
Agenda 2030 is related with UK's sustainable development strategy, it requires that
countries should participate in that for gaining more sustainability social, economic and
environmental future development national strategies. The major goals and objectives of the
agenda 2030 are -
 Getting social progress by fulfilling the needs of everyone.
 Imperative and efficient use of natural resources.
 Environmental protection and saving it for future generation.
 Fixing higher level of economic growth by reducing poverty and unemployment.
In September 2015, UK achieved international agreement for its 2030 Agenda on
sustainable development. It is simply meeting present needs of society without compromising the
ability of upcoming peoples to meet their own. Its goal mainly cover five keys-
 People: To ensure that their basic requirement of people fulfil and this agenda provides
them safe and healthy environment it is important for human being health and life.
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Illustration 1: Goals of sustainable development in UK

 Planet: Protection of planet is necessary therefore, excess use of natural resources create
problem for present and future generation (Johnson and et. al., 2012). This can also create
crises of resources and some natural disaster also.
 Prosperity: It ensure that all human beings have financial prosperous that will help in
social, economic, technological development and also in growth of country.
 Peace: It is necessary for sustainable development without this there is difficulties in
development. Environment free from violence and fear is healthy for country and also for
the people in the country.
 Partnership: Participation of all countries, stakeholders, people are required for
implement Agenda 2030. For completing any project there is requirement of peoples as
well as funds also.
There are different issues and challenges that are being faced by UK's government. These
elements can harm the sustainable growth of the country and creates various barriers. There are
three major issues in sustainable development Agenda 2030 are explained below:-
 Social- Every country has some social issues that can be related to education, facilities,
employment, infrastructure or many more. For the same, equal human rights should be
given to people living in country every individual have their own rights of choosing and
giving their opinion (Bandarin, Hosagrahar and Sailer Albernaz, 2011). Democracy and
accountable governance structure should be their every individual work like mature
people and accept their responsibilities for better growth or improvement of social
attributes like communication style, behaviour pattern, indirect education, philosophical
explorations. Good quality of life should be there for all members at individual, groups
and community level by providing them employment if everyone is employed then, they
can fulfil needs of own and family or also help in rising living standard. There are many
health issues in every economy because of over utilisation of natural resources this excess
use are the reason of many diseases because without plant there is no fresh air if no tree
are their then no rain this many cause water problem also. Some social responsibilities
are also there of every individual has to work towards the country so as to maintain
balance between the economy and ecosystem.
 Environmental issues - This is the main cause of health issues in every country. It
cannot be protected by spending money. Environmental issues occur because of cutting
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trees for making furniture and paper while population growth and economic development
create pressure on land and resources these will be threats to natural resources like
climate change, pollution and wastage, depletion of habits and direct impact on health
and quality of life, food and water scarcity (Longo and Saltmarsh, 2011). Reducing food
wastage many contribute to environmental protection and help in sustainable
development it is the basic need of everyone in present and for future also. If there is lack
of natural resources then in future there will be issues related to food because no
resources means no farming. All three land, water and energy have direct impact on
agriculture and food production. Food prices are already increasing day by day because
of expensive raw material for cultivation and in future it can be volatile. Education are
also can be the reason of environment harming because uneducated person don't know
importance of environment and they utilise resources according to wants and don't think
for future crises also.
 Political issues - These issues main reason is government of UK because what politician
say before election and what that do after winning. Best example of this is they say about
giving equal rights to women's and men's after winning they even don't talk about this
issue. Strength of civil and political right should be show by the country with the help of
taking proper decisions for development and growth of country as well as individual
person (Ball, Grubnic and Birchall, 2014). Inequalities should be reduced everyone
should have equal voting right and can take their own decision. Inequalities between rural
and urban area development of lack behind area also necessary for economic balanced
development this can be done with the help of political parties.
 Technological issues - It can be related to modernisation or up-gradation in existing
technologies. Development of latest technologies is necessary for better production and
this will help in increasing GDP (gross domestic production) of country and also gives its
contribution in employment generation. It reduce wastage in factories and any
organisation because work are done with the help of latest machines and equipment. It
solve the problem related to environmental and social issues also. Technologies help us in
use of the resources as much as possible and reuse also if it is left in efficient manner. It
help in pollution control and minimum use of resources also change production process.
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Generate employee’s interest also because of advance technologies and it will also
conclude in national income.
These all are major issues in sustainable development Agenda 2030 UK. While doing
planning for this project firstly country have to work on these issues for betterment of the
respective country and it will help in achieving goal of development Agenda. Fulfilling current
needs and demand is necessary for future development. If the present generation have quality of
life then it can give the same to upcoming (Hill, 2011).
In order to achieve sustainable development goals, it is essential for British government
to have substantial investment in both developed and developing areas. It also requires the
optimum utilisation of available resources, i.e. trillions to dollars. Such investments are
accessible in to address climate changes by eliminating gas emissions, greenhouses and building
climate resilience.
CONCLUSION
As per the above discussion, it has been summarised that there are different kinds of
issues and challenges being faced by healthcare care entities. In order to ensure sustainable
growth and development, EU has created an Agenda of 2030 so as to provide healthy and
positive lifestyle to British people. There are different types of issues such as economic, political,
social, environmental, etc. that can hinder the sustainable development within countries.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baum, F. 2016. The new public health (No. Ed. 4). Oxford University Press.
Williams, C. 2014. Environmental victims. Routledge.
Checker, M., 2011. Wiped out by the “greenwave”: Environmental gentrification and the
paradoxical politics of urban sustainability. City & Society. 23(2). pp.210-229.
Yin, J. and Zhang, Y., 2012. Institutional dynamics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in
an emerging country context: Evidence from China. Journal of Business Ethics. 111(2).
pp.301-316.
Chawla, L. and Derr, V., 2012. The development of conservation behaviors in childhood and
youth.
Hill, P. S., 2011. Understanding global health governance as a complex adaptive system. Global
Public Health. 6(6). pp.593-605.
Ball, A., Grubnic, S. and Birchall, J., 2014. 11 Sustainability accounting and accountability in
the public sector. Sustainability accounting and accountability. p.176.
Longo, N. V. and Saltmarsh, J., 2011. New lines of inquiry in reframing international service
learning into global service learning. International service learning: Conceptual
frameworks and research. 1. pp.69-85.
Bandarin, F., Hosagrahar, J. and Sailer Albernaz, F. 2011. Why development needs culture.
Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 1(1). pp.15-25.
Johnson, O. and et. al., 2012. Global health learning outcomes for medical students in the UK.
The Lancet. 379(9831). pp.2033-2035.
Online
A New Dawn: SDGs, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 2015. [Online]. Available
through: <http://researchpolicyshop.blogspot.in/2015/09/a-new-dawn-sdgs-2030-
agenda-for.html>.
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