- The COVID 19 pandemic tested health systems but, importantly, the global population to rethink their health prevention and self-care practices.
- The Self-care Readiness Index public policy study, currently under development and in collaboration between AFAMELA and the Global Self-Care Federation, highlights national efforts toward a global culture of self-care.
- Specialists say that the preliminary results of the first international study on practices and public policies in health systems contribute to laying the foundations for a national culture of self-care in Mexico.
About the world self care day which is commemorated every July 24, the Association of Manufacturers of Free Access Medicines, AC (AFAMELA) and specialists in the field presented the preliminary results of the Readiness for Self-Care Index. This is a work carried out in collaboration with The Global Self-Care Federation.
It consists of the first research to explore the effect of public policies on self-care in health systems worldwide. In a first phase developed in 2021, 10 countries belonging to the six regions of the World Health Organization (WHO): United States, Brazil, China, France, United Kingdom, Poland, Egypt, South Africa, Thailand and Nigeria. This 2022 has included Mexico on behalf of the Latin American region.
Findings of the international study
- There is no standard global understanding of the concept of self-care, making its implementation difficult.
- The concept brings greater benefits to people with high health literacy, allowing them to make better decisions.
- Policies exist within countries, but are generally unrelated. Which causes the strategies of governments to be isolated.
Promote the culture of self-care in Mexico
The results of this index are crucial to establish an effective public policy and lay the groundwork for a national culture of self-care in Mexico. This can increase access to health and positively impact public health systems.
“For more than 35 years, we have promoted campaigns that encourage awareness of conditions, symptoms and the proper use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications” to treat them. However, this research analyzes where we should concentrate our efforts and reaffirms that we need the participation of the government, civil society organizations, the medical community and academia, as well as the commitment of the population in general”, commented Sergio Gómez. , President of the Board of Directors of AFAMELA.
He also assured that the country must promote campaigns aligned with the WHO that clarify the idea of self-care. This purpose includes increasing the quantity and quality of health information to empower patients. In addition, use official media, as well as national media for dissemination.
Along the same lines, it is essential to form a broad network of advocates to sensitize the actors involved regarding the benefits of having a healthier population. Also encourage them to establish a comprehensive public policy that includes medium and long-term strategies, popular activations, as well as health education programs, among other actions.
Roberto Beyrute, Vice President of the Board of Directors of AFAMELAcommented that to carry out a national diagnosis that leads to a more resilient health system the four indicators that the study considered can be applied.
- The interest of the parties involved.
- The degree of health literacy of the population.
- The presence of the paradigm in public initiatives and their level of priority.
- The cooperation of the regulatory environment that measures the ease of processes, innovation, as well as technology for people to access self-care strategies.
For her part, Dr. Ana María Ocaña, coordinator of the AFAMELA Self-Care Advisory Council, invited all the actors of society to approach this approach to improve the well-being of the population. Although there are programs that contemplate it within public health institutions, we still do not have a national culture of self-care.
For this reason, he highlighted as essential that the subject be included in the curricula of medical schools, medical congresses, awareness campaigns and other continuing education activities even from the first school levels.
Finally, the specialists assured that this index will strengthen the design of a best Mexican health system that in the coming decades it translates into greater access to health and distribution of resources for medical care, with a positive impact on the national economy.