The first and fundamental way in which healthy population strengthens the economy is the "improvement of an economy’s productive potential" (Clift, 2004, p. 11). Considering that high mortality rates is a burning problem in Afghanistan, " UNICEF, along with the Ministry of Public Health and other partners, is working hard to ensure every person in this country access to health care" (Madhok, 2014).
In the meantime, falling mortality rates normally result in the increase of a country's productive forces.
Another example of relationship between public health and strengthening of the economy is the fact that a longer lifespan, which the government of Afghanistan is currently striving for, is a major factor contributing to the increase in GDP per capita. In actual fact, " The impact of health on GDP is substantial—an extra year of life expectancy is estimated to raise a country’s per capita GDP by about 4 percent" (Clift, 2004, p. 15).
What is more, it is a proven fact that "better health matters more for wages in low-income countries", including Afghanistan, than in high-income states (Clift, 2004, p. 12). The fourth way in which healthy population strengthens the economy is the increased efficiency and greater achievements of healthy workers of Afghanistan in terms of production and production outcomes.
Speaking from the perspective of the role the government of Afghanistan should play in trying to improve the country's health status, it should be noted that the government's role is of paramount importance to the healthcare sector.
Considering that the development in Afghanistan "is complicated by many factors that plague post-conflict countries including an unstable political system, poor economy, poor baseline health indices, and ongoing violence", the government should be responsible for the complete rebuilding of the system of healthcare.
Obviously, better quality of the provided healthcare services "leads to better health outcomes in developing countries", such as Afghanistan (Peabody, Taguiwalo, Robalino, & Frenk, 2006, p. 1308). Therefore, the government of Afghanistan should be oriented towards increasing the quality of provided medical services. "Good quality means that providers are able to manage an individual's or a population's health care by timely, skillful application of medical technology in a culturally sensitive manner within the available resource constraints" (Peabody, Taguiwalo, Robalino, & Frenk, 2006, p. 1308).
The government should be responsible for the lawmaking process and for the implementation of laws and policies with regard to the healthcare system. It should also exert constant control over the compliance of healthcare providing institutions with policies and regulations in force to ensure high quality of services.
The government of Afghanistan should also actively take part in the process of fighting corruption, including minor bribes, as well as secret alliance of healthcare workers and medical corporations. It should also be responsible for educating and training of healthcare workers.
More importantly, the government should guarantee every citizen free access to quality and cost-effective healthcare services in this country. Currently, "progress has been made in Afghanistan with the implementation of the Basic Package of Health Service (BPHS) by the Ministry of Public Health in an effort to provide healthcare that would have the most cost-effective impact on common health problems" (Acerra, Iskyan, Qureshi, & Sharma, 2009, p. 77).
Another fundamental function of government with respect to the healthcare sector is the development of infrastructure and related healthcare facilities.
References
Acerra, J. R., Iskyan, K., Qureshi, Z. A., & Sharma, R. K. (2009). Rebuilding the health care system in Afghanistan: An overview of primary care and emergency services. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2(2), 77-82. Retrieved March 6, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2700223/
Clift, J. (Ed.). (2004) Health and Development: Why Investing in Health is Critical for Achieving Economic Development Goals. Washington, DC: The International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Madhok, R. (2014, May 27). Health care for children and women in remotest Afghanistan. Retrieved March 05, 2016, from http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/afghanistan_72846.html
Peabody, J. W., Taguiwalo, M. M., Robalino, D. A., & Frenk, J. (2006). Improving the Quality of Care in Developing Countries. In Disease control priorities in developing countries (2nd ed., pp. 1293-1309). New York: Oxford University Press.
