The above quote clearly drives the point that prevention is better than cure. Most developing countries
suffer from the horrible fate of facing 'The Double Burden of Disease'. The United Kingdom,
fortunately, does not face this problem, atleast, not as acutely. Now, at the dawn of the third
millenneum, non-communicable and communicable diseases are sweeping the entire globe. This trend
is seen to be increasing, especially in developing countries, where financial and demographic issues
impose constraints on tackling the double burden.
For centuries, life expectancy was often limited to uncontrolled epidemics. After the second World
War, non-communicable diseases started causing major problems in industrialized countries. Heart
diseases, cancer, lung diseases,
…show more content…
By 2020, it is predicted that non-communicable
diseases will account for 80% of the global burden of disease, resulting in 7 out of every 10 deaths in
developing countries, which when compared with less than half today, it is an unprecedented increase.
'The Double Burden of Disease' requires international attention because it is inevitable and affects the
globe as a whole.
In the past, the UK has taken many measures to lessen the blow of the double burden. The most
remarkable one would be the setting up of the NHS.
The UK had set up the NHS or the National Health Service as an initiative to provide easily accessible
healthcare facilities for its citizens, in 1948. It was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare
should be, regardless of wealth, available to all.The NHS remains free to use to anyone who is a UK
resident.
The UK has sent its healthcare workers to the countries affected by Ebola, HIV and AIDS. Also, the
UK has employed many researchers and scientists funded by the Government to find a cure for the
aforementioned diseases. The United Kingdom is also working on preventive medication and