Globalization of infectious diseases - Coursework Example

Discussion Health is one of the most fundamental predictors of how well a nation is doing economically, socially, culturally, politically, and technologically. The level of healthiness is used as a scale to gauge a nation’s readiness for change and innovation which is the need of the hour. Health derives its importance from the fact that it is related to the basic survival of mankind. Only after a nation is able to survive can it be psychologically, mentally, and physically robust enough to empower, grow, and take over.

Prevalence of a variety of infectious diseases presents an economic concern for globalization because in a globalized and interconnected world, the healthy nations feel obliged morally, ethically, as well as politically to help the victims of the affected regions with medical supplies and healthcare services. Similarly, prevalence of infectious diseases in a region deters the foreign companies to expand into them, thus proving a hurdle to cultural integration and globalization.The globalization of economy presents a health concern for populations by directly affecting the quality and cost of medical care supplies and services.

As the value of one currency goes up, the medical supplies and services imported from it rise in price. Purchasers have to pay more to get the same services. “Population health status and its distribution are determined by population-level influences, individual level health risks, and the health care system. The last two are strongly influenced by the household economy” (Woordward et al., 2001, p. 876). The household economy, in turn, is affected by a range of factors driven by globalization.

References:Woordward, D. et al. (2001). Globalization and health: a framework for analysis and action. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 79(9), 875-881.