To balance western medicine and indigenous health services / The barriers to access health care

According the United Nations Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues, indigenous communities, on a global scale, have fewer access to quality health services, giving way to higher mortality rates, higher rates of communicable diseases, and poorer nutrition. In fact, in Latin America, infant mortality rates are a staggering 60 percent greater in indigenous communities than non-indigenous ones. And on page eight and nine of the article, the IASG brings to attention to the need for the balance between western health services and traditional indigenous health practices. And in fact, according to the article, the World Health Organization, in its resolution CD47.R18, urges states to combine western health practices to that of traditional ones by incorporating indigenous people in the different stages of health services. To find a right balance between western practices and medicine and traditional indigenous services is important in that it addresses a fundamental barrier of accessing quality health care; cultural differences. Not only are there language differences that either create a large miscommunication between the service provider and the indigenous person, but also there exists cultural differences that spur to racism and discrimination. Of the latter reason, the article claims that “expression of racism and other forms of discrimination are widespread… Racism and discrimination in the healthcare system perpetuate distrust with health care providers and have a negative impact on health outcomes.” (IASG).

Yet, despite urge from the IASG, the result of balancing western health services to that of traditional indigenous ones has been less than stellar, due to other structural barriers, especially poverty and education. For example, despite an 83 percent increase in funding in indigenous health services, Australia’s Aboriginal communities still face large health barriers, such as a wage gap where “an average Aboriginal household earns only about 55 percent of an average Australian family” (WHO), effectively detering indigenous youth in Australia to pursue education. In addition, according to 2002 reports, Canadian aboriginal students is “only one quarter of the total needed to reflect the overall population.” (Macaulay). With this in mind, there are some questions to consider. First, how can we develop a specific health service that encompasses the culture and traditional practices of the indigenous population, while also adhering to the practices of modern medicine? Second, how can we address the fundamental barriers that block indigenous people from receiving proper health services? (I talked about two barriers: culture and poverty, look at the article and identify the barriers and research their implications) Third, in addition to providing structural reforms to support indigenous people, in what ways can future grievances can be cooperatively addressed between indigenous people and the government? Feel free to answer in the comments below, be sure to assume the role of the delegation and answer according to your country policy.