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‘Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies.’- is the theme for the World Health Day, 2009. It aims at the safety of the health care facilities (hospitals, equipments, transport facilities, life saving measures, emergency departments), and reliability of the health care professionals (adequate staffing, emergency management training) during disasters and calamities. In emergencies these services need to exceed and reach up to the desired requirements and needs for which ideal standards have to be set. The WHO and international partners are looking forward towards investing for a health infrastructure that can withstand hazards when health facilities are damaged or fail to function after occurrence of any natural disasters and man made havocs. Failing health facilities after disasters further adds to the suffering, and increases the risk of death or disability among the affected people.
Making hospitals and health facilities safe from disasters is an economic requirement and a social necessity. This global campaign is organized by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and the WHO with support from the World Bank. This aims to ensure that all health facilities are designed and built to withstand disasters, protect patients as well as health workers, and continue to provide life-saving services after emergencies.
It is almost impossible to fully regain the damage caused by such disasters but it is possible to minimize the potential risks by developing early warning strategies. In the health care sector there developmental plans should be implemented to provide resilience to such disasters. The mode of communication should be strengthened. There should be ample supplies of drugs and other consumables along with adequate staff so that the hospitals are capable of taking care of the additional patients admitted at the stressful time of crisis. Also, there should be sufficient facilities in the rehabilitation sector for post-disaster relief management.
To save the economy from loss, there should be participation of many sectors like policy makers, administration, professional institutions, financial institutions, insurance sector, community, NGOs and the common man. Insurance sector has played a very important role in the developed countries. These advanced countries have developed the insurance system, which they have made very effective and mandatory due to which the loss of lives and property is comparatively less. In India, most of the losses suffered, even the ones due to the natural disasters, are not insured. There are many reasons for this such as the lack of purchasing power, lack of interest in insurance, ignorance of availability of such covers, etc.
Health insurance plan has turned out to be a basic necessity for everyone in today's pacing life. Even if you are not affected by any calamity, yet your health is not safe. A healthy body is always surrounded by harmful microorganisms, polluted air and contaminated foods that may create health problems. Hence, even after taking necessary precautions, one is always at a risk of getting various diseases. If the disease is short-term, you can easily come out of it by taking prescribed medications. However, if you get victimized for long-term or life-threatening disease, you will surely need assistance - emotional as well as financial. A health insurance can safeguard you from the financial crisis that may arise as a result of paying for medical bills. Hence, everyone shall have health insurance to stay financially healthy at the times of physical illness.
Today, the medical expenses are rising so rapidly that commoners are unable to cope up with the treatment expenses. Health insurance gives relief to such people by providing right money at right time. Especially in countries like India, where several families run only by a single earning member, health insurance has surely manage to make a distinct place to save people from getting bankrupt as a result of paying huge medical expenses for the family. Besides health insurance plans, there are numerous other insurance plans that will take care of your needs. Hence, it is essential not only to opt for an insurance plan but also to learn the factors that will help you to go for the best plan so as to gain the maximum benefit out of it for yourself and for your loved ones.
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