The organization and presentation of the Czech Republic data profile is intentionally non-political.  In regards to the quality of health services, the Czech Republic has progressed in the last 20 years and positive developments can be observed in all aspects of healthcare with a resulting increase in life expectancy.  However, this success does burden public health system sustainability by increasing demand and corresponding costs of providing services. 

 

WHO EML medications represent the most efficacious, safe and cost-effective treatment options available using a rigorous method for inclusion and exclusion. Many (if not most) developing countries adopted the list as is. In developed countries, it is indispensable for the treatment of conditions such as tuberculosis, malaria, leishmaniosis, plague, bacterial meningitis, common childhood conditions and many others.

 

Arete Zoe has developed a presentation to accompany the country report titled Equitable and Economic access to Effective Therapies (E3T) to explain how this can be used as one element in assessment and refinement of Public health approach, which differs from one country to another.

 

Modern healthcare should be set in evidence-based medicine, defined as the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. Most developed countries use some kind of Standard of Care, also called best practice, standard medical care, and standard therapy. Standard of Care is defined as “the caution that a reasonable person in similar circumstances would exercise in providing care to a patient.” The definition of “Best practice” for specific conditions is essential to ensure the consistent and measurable quality of care delivered to patients and limit the social and financial burden inflicted by the burden of disability. The standard of care is not necessarily always the most expensive solution available. Equitable and Economical access to Effective Therapies is a key to facilitate discourse for sustainable healthcare and a resilient society.

 

Population turbulence from migration is protracted or indirect, but cannot be dismissed as irrelevant and serves as both an exposure opportunity and vector for illnesses previously non-existent or effectively controlled. Restrictive immigration policies do not significantly reduce the potential because of mobility within the EU to countries with larger refugee populations.  Discretionary vacation travel and citizens who may settle in another EU country for career choice continue returning to the country of origin.

 

The new reality of globalization forces an essential paradigm shift for the probability of disease occurrence and necessitates deliberate provisions for reliable access to these essential medications which are further challenged by pharmaceutical profit motives that reduce production in favor of newer drugs but with less adverse reaction histories.  

 

Arete Zoe’s continued research and analysis on Public Health issues may be useful for influencing refinement of policy within the Czech Republic.