Through a close analysis of the situation in the country, three issues stands out which should be of top priority by the current administration. The issues include; health care, security and food security. It is worth noting, that most people receive poor health services while others have no access. Good health care is important in promoting the economic growth of this country since it is directly proportional to labor productivity (Siskin & Alison 11). The past administration failed to a great extent to address the insecurity situation in the country, which is now making most parts of the country unsafe for people to live. The rampant cases of people losing their lives in strange circumstances reveal a terrible insecurity situation in the country and this issue must be urgently addressed before the situation gets out of hand. Food insecurity especially among the vulnerable groups is a challenge that is even worsened by insecurity since most people cannot carry out farming for fear of being attacked in their farms. It is unfortunate that, the new government has to address these issues at a time when there are many other issues to be worked out. sad still, is the fact that the economic situation in the country is still stagnated and in the actual sense less economic growth is expected if the three issues remain neglected . The current administration has limited options in improving the economy unless the mentioned issues are given immediate attention since all of the three, directly or indirectly affect the economy. A government has nothing more important to tackle than the welfare of its people.
I have analyzed each issue and developed recommendations that need serve as policy matters to improve the current situation.
While universal health care remains a central role of the government, it is evident that still the Medicaid program still has less coverage, (Siskin & other, 24).according to 2010 data on national health care, the total number of deaths was 2,468,435, which translates into a death rate of 799.5 deaths per a population of 100,000 people. The infant mortality rates as at the same year was at 6.15 deaths per 1000 live births and the life expectancy dropped slightly to 78.7 years. Degenerative diseases such as cancer claimed the lives of 574,743 people in the year 2010. To reflect on the reduction of capacity of the country to handle emergencies such as accidents, the number of deaths due to such emergencies is relatively high (120859 deaths) compared to 120831 in the previous year, 20009. The 2010 national health statistics are quite alarming and the current administration has to do its best in a timely manner to curb the situation. Most people cannot afford health services due to inflation that has increased even the cost of medicine. There is a serious shortage of physicians in the country which has further worsened the situation. In some areas the number of public health facilities is miserably inadequate and this has led to increased mortality rates and totally complicated the capacity to handle emergencies. A recent study (Siskin& Alison 18) reveals that the country’s physicians utilize $27 billion annually for interactions concerned with health planning. More particularly, reports show that physicians spend about half-hour every day, four hours each week involving them in health planning. This reveals unnecessary, excessive and unproductive administrative roles. Electronic records as it stands today, do not satisfy clinicians just as they do not meet patients’ needs but further add inefficiency in the daily flow of work in hospitals(Siskin & other 16). At times physicians fear of being sued since they think they are exposed to liability lawsuits. In some instances, truly harmed patients as a result of medical errors have to wait for long before the court decides on compensation, this need to be addressed urgently. Some of the laws that direct clinicians on what they are required to do or procedures they have to subject their patients to are not largely well articulated to enhance improved services.
I propose that, development of payment models that provide for incentives for clinicians to spend reasonable clinical time attending patients be laid down. This will also include integration with other models of payment to eliminate instances where the medical staffs spend more time in administrative roles.
Delivery and payment reforms that make physicians accountable for care outcomes should concurrently remove review layers and guessing at times used by physicians to make decisions. There is need to develop new delivery and payment models that provide for satisfaction of both patients and medical practitioners. It is necessary that national measures of performance be on the basis of quality scientific evidence. Measures need to routinely allow physicians to report exceptions for failure to follow a recommendation. Most importantly development of sophisticated measures which will be programmed for flexibility and be reliable for electronic use should be what to go by.
The president’s first priority is to keep the people he governs safe. The current administration should be committed to ensure that the state remains true to its ideals and values and protection of the people. The strategy of national security, released April 21, 2012, provides a layout of strategic approach required in advancing the state’s interest whereby homeland security is a top priority. Securing the state’s internal security by preventing attacks of terrorism and other homeland threats, preparation for emergencies and investment in tough response accompanied with excellent capabilities for recovery actually form the current security task.
In 2008, 1 for every 31 adults (7.2 million) was behind bars in America. In addition 86927 were under custody in juvenile facilities. It is estimated that 26 of prison inmates comprised of noncitizens that were either convicted legally while in the country or for being in the country illegally. In the year 2012 total number of fatalities from terrorism was 9 on the same year; other 9 plotted attacks were reported.
The administration has to expand the potential to fight terrorism by increasing the defense budget by an extra amount averaging $5 to enhance capability of state partners in improving their security and enable them to work with us to overcome terrorism in the world. Attacks of nuclear nature and biological weapons pose serious national threat to security. To handle these non-traditional threats, the decision makers must be equipped with tools of managing disease outbreaks through linking health care personnel, hospitals and other agencies. We can make new drugs, diagnostic tests and ensure quick process of manufacture.
Price inflation of food commodities has a severe impact on health and nutrition of poor families. Most citizens are affected negatively by increasing food prices (Clapp 310). A disproportionate effect is on poor people due to the fact that they normally spend much of their income on food. Analysis of household response to price increases (Clapp 304), show that in the year 2011-2012 periods, wheat price increased 152% and maize by 120%. clearly, crisis on food brings responses to structural causes that include elements of financing in the food sector.
In the year 2012, about 17.6 million (14.5) of the U.S households suffered from food insecurity, which in essence remained unchanged from 14.9% in the year 2011 approximately 49 million people resided in households that were food insecure, 12.4 million adults came from very low food security households and an additional 977000 infants stayed in households where one or more young one experienced a situation of very low food security. The high number of people continuously facing food insecurity calls for interventions that will steer agricultural production to meet the food demand.
More agricultural research investments, new structural adjustments are required to reform institutions and run the whole agricultural innovation system. The private sector must be allowed increased participation in research and development related activities. The government should implement contract agriculture that is very efficient and on the basis of production, it is very dynamic and innovative. This form of agriculture results in integration of technology, financial resources and management. The government needs to increase budgetary allocation for agriculture to enhance research and drive extension services. We need to provide subsidized fertilizers to allow farmers to produce more. Streamlining of land ownership by issuance of title deeds will increase production that will be also sustainable, since farmers will preferably adopt conservation measures when there is land ownership security.
It is therefore important to urgently address the issues of security, health care and food security by revising their respective current policies to include the recommendations I have proposed to enhance quality delivery of services and create potential for economic development.
Works cited:
Clapp, J. (2009). ‘The global food crisis and international agricultural policy: Journal of Global Governance, 15(2):299-312
Siskin, Alison. (2009).Noncitizen Health Insurance Coverage Use of Select-Net Providers: Journal of states healthcare, 7(3):21-33
White House, Executive Office of the President. Executive Order 13142, Improving Security Access.2011<www.lep.gov/13166/eo13166.html>.
