In recent times all over the world, chronic diseases have become rampant and they are a real source of public health concern to the populace and health practitioners alike. Chronic diseases have been referred to as diseases which progress slowly, have long duration, are devoid of resolving spontaneously, restricts and limits the productivity, function and the quality of life of the person afflicted with such disease. A chronic disease has dire consequences on the life of the ill person. Also, it has the ability to distort the life of a healthy partner and also healthy relations. The nature of chronic diseases poses a major challenge to the person suffering from the ailment and the healthcare professionals managing such a patient. Apart from the impacts on the economic and social lives of the person suffering from chronic disease and their families, in America, the Medicare costs of people living with chronic diseases corresponds to about 75 percent of the $2 trillion the American government expends on annual health care ( Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010) The centre for disease control and prevention in the United States of America has it that chronic diseases account for up to seventy percent of all deaths. Also, about 48 million Americans have a disability related to a chronic disease (CDC, 2009).
VULNERABILITY
Chronic diseases include the cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, chronic lung diseases, stroke, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, tuberculosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, schizophrenia, chronic pain, arthritis and a host of such chronic disorders. Individuals living with chronic illnesses are considered to be vulnerable. Oftentimes they are economically disadvantaged, they belong to the ethnic and racial minorities, they are uninsured, they are homeless and they include the elderly also. In addition, the vulnerable also include those that reside in rural areas who encounter various problems in accessing quality health care. Therefore, their healthcare and health problems intersect with social factors. Such social factors include poverty, housing problems and inadequate education. Therefore, their healthcare and health problems intersect with social factors. Such social factors include poverty, housing problems and inadequate education. Chronic diseases significantly afflict the low income earners, the unemployed, the less educated and the uninsured.
DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE
The Chronic diseases epidemic is slowly and gradually inching towards crisis proportions, yet the governments, health care funders, health care policy makers, public health agencies and programs alike have not done enough in improving the quality of life of people living with chronic illnesses. Current service delivery and financing are not at par with the health needs of these vulnerable populations. For example, the number of patients younger than 65 years who are uninsured increased by 6 million between 2000 and 2004 with the poor accounting for about two thirds of the entire group. In this population, about 45% have a minimum of a chronic medical condition. Also, about 60% of people afflicted with chronic diseases and are without insurance say they did not purchase a prescription drug in 2003 due to the cost as against about 39% with insurance (AJMC, 2006)
PUBLIC POLICIES/CARE TRENDS
Public policies towards those with chronic diseases have not been encouraging. Governments and policy makers have not done enough for the vulnerable. Since it is well documented that the vulnerable encompass the unemployed, the underprivileged, the elderly and the homeless. Efforts are not being made to reduce the number of those living with chronic diseases which keeps increasing daily, the number of the homeless and access to quality health care by these group.
In conclusion, those living with chronic diseases such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, COPD, asthma are regarded as vulnerable. Majority are old, homeless, unemployed and underemployed. The government has a lot to do in promoting their quality of life.
References
The American Journal of Managed Care. (2006) Vulnerable Populations: Who are they Volume 12: s348-s352 Retrieved from
http//www.ajmc.com/publications/supplement/2006/200611vol1n13Suppl/Nov062390ps352/1
E. Nolte & M. Mckee. (2008) Caring for People with Chronic Conditions A healthy system perspective. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Retrieved from
data/assets/pdf file/0006/96468/E91878.pdf
National Academy of Sciences. (2012) Living Well with Chronic Illness: A call for Public Health Action. Retrirved from http://wicancer.org/documents/LivingWellwithChronicIllness.pdf
