In the early 1960s, when United States healthcare expenses reached 3% of GDP, members of the U.S. Congress were so outraged that they held hearings to address such an unsustainable level of spending. The passing years have shown that 3% was not only sustainable, it was cheap. Today, healthcare spending in the United States is over 17% of GDP. The countries of … [Read more...] about Can We Afford a Healthy Future?
Inter-American Development Bank
The thriving future of the silver economy
Did you know that people over 60 years old account for more than 50% of total consumer spending in several industrialized economies? This population segment is becoming a driver of employment, growth, and innovation. Its impact in Latin America and the Caribbean Though many people are aware of it, few anticipate that this very development will soon transform the economies … [Read more...] about The thriving future of the silver economy
What Mesoamerica Can Teach Us About Health Equity, Impact, and Decolonizing Global Health
Mesoamerica is an isthmus land sandwiched between the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, a world away from where the Gates Foundation focuses most of its attention. It is a socio-cultural region with a rich history that runs through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and Chiapas, MX. Much of the terrain here is rugged, mountainous, and lush - … [Read more...] about What Mesoamerica Can Teach Us About Health Equity, Impact, and Decolonizing Global Health
Mental Health Services Through a Screen
The COVID-19 crisis has generated mental health problems among previously healthy people and has exacerbated those problems among people with existing conditions. This challenge is not new for Latin America and the Caribbean, where mental health disorders are one of the five main causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). At the global level, the World Health … [Read more...] about Mental Health Services Through a Screen
Post-diagnostic Management of Dementia, a Prescription of Care
In a previous article, we have talked about how dementia is diagnosed, its symptoms and consequences, the importance of doing it with the right professional, and the toll that it could have in family members and care partners. Making an accurate and timely diagnosis of dementia is a first step in a long journey that will last years and will require support for the person living … [Read more...] about Post-diagnostic Management of Dementia, a Prescription of Care