Author Topic: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam  (Read 33465 times)

Offline RV Pundit

  • Moderator
  • Enigma
  • *
  • Posts: 38124
  • Reputation: 1074446
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #100 on: August 21, 2015, 01:55:21 PM »
Veritas, this is not nice.
The problem with you is your ego and not being able to admit you're wrong. You have a tendency to ignore facts and obviously don't possess the cognitive capacity to understand complex issues. That is why you are retarded.

Offline mya88

  • Moderator
  • Mega superstar
  • *
  • Posts: 399
  • Reputation: 2095
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #101 on: August 21, 2015, 02:10:26 PM »
Windy,

Quote
Medicaid in the United States is a social health care program for families and individuals with low income and limited resources. The Health Insurance Association of America describes Medicaid as a "government insurance program for persons of all ages whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for health care."

It's insurance. Oz has that too for pensioners and youth in the form of discounts and insurance underwriters. That's not universal healthcare.

Quote
Universal health care, sometimes referred to as universal health coverage, universal coverage, or universal care, usually refers to a health care system which provides health care and financial protection to all citizens of a particular country.

Both quotes are from Google. I'm not sure if some peeps have been drunk posting or genuinely retarded when it comes to healthcare.
From my assessment of your postings and the tendency to mix issues, you could be accused of drunk posting yourself. Since google seem to be your friend, use it more to learn about the American health system. No one here ever made the argument that it was universal yet...merely that we are leaning towards universal. And yes with all that good stuff you talk about in the common wealth, you will still have to get on the waiting list to get specialist treatment, while all I need to do is look up one, call and walah... I have an appointment for whatever procedure I needed.

http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/law/index.html

The problem with you is your ego and not being able to admit you're wrong. You have a tendency to ignore facts and obviously don't possess the cognitive capacity to understand complex issues. That is why you are retarded.
wow...ego...retarded...just because I don't ascribe to your narrow minded school of thought?.........and I thought I was corresponding with a sane human being. You have issues lady, and I don't think I am one of your issues. Maybe you should take time of line and sort your issues out.

 Actually, now thinking about it..... I consider this type of behavior harassment or even intimidation. That is the same reason you referred to Moonki as Misogynistic earlier. I am going to tell you something and this may come as news to you veri.........(1) don't ever freakin think that anyone here is scared of you. (2) you do not have monopoly when it comes to insults...
"We must be the change we wish to see" - Mahatma Ghandi

Offline mya88

  • Moderator
  • Mega superstar
  • *
  • Posts: 399
  • Reputation: 2095
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #102 on: August 21, 2015, 02:25:25 PM »
And yes with all that good stuff you talk about in the common wealth, you will still have to get on the waiting list to get specialist treatment, while all I need to do is look up one,

People sometimes overlook this when making comparisons.   In the USA if you need to (or even merely want to) see a specialist, you simply find one (Google, Yellow Pages, etc.) you think you might like, call or send email, and then off you go.   That's not possible in places like the UK: there the NHS system used to claim that they would guarantee one within 18 weeks, but that hasn't worked and all it's done is get people extremely pissed off at the long waiting times.  It looks like the government will now scrap any attempt at a guarantee and simply say "you get to see one when you get to see one".   

I also note that there are some interesting claims being made for the Australian healthcare system.  One of them is that, beyond basic taxes, everything is free for all and that doctors there (unlike greedy Americans) must charge a fixed fee.  On that:

* Australian doctors can, and quite a few do, charge whatever fee they like.   Medicare will cover only the "schedule fee", and it is up to the patient or insurance company to pay the rest.

* The Australian system actually forces many people---and deliberately so---so buy private health insurance, amidst this claimed cornucopia of freebies.   This is done via something called the Medicare Levy Surcharge.   The government basically says "we think you make enough to afford private insurance, so if you don't get it we'll tax you some more".   People look at the tax and the insurance rates, and it's called an offer one can't refuse.

Oh, the Aborigines are simply screwed, no matter what.  None of the above, or anything else applies to them.  Apparently.

Moonki

I think the common wealth system is good in the sense that it allows medicine to be practiced at the primary, preventative level. Most people are required to have at least a primary care MD who follows them throughout, tracks progress, makes changes as they go.

This is supposed to ensure the most common chronic illnesses such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma etc, that are so rampant in other countries like the US, are controlled, or reduced if not eliminated all together. This overall is an excellent strategy of keeping the society healthy, and reducing unnecessary costs. It also keeps people out of hospitals. Children get all their required immunizations and followed by the clinician. If they could achieve that in its entirety, then there wouldn't be as much need for specialist care. In that sense it is actually and excellent system.

Now apply this to Kenya....if the government could ensure that the basics such as childhood vaccinations for pneumonia, cholera, typhoid (not sure if these even exist) etc are mandatory, infant and child mortalities could be significantly reduced. If those local dispensaries were functioning like they did, when we were growing up, the hospitals would be empty....this is where the government needed to focus their efforts on, revamp local clinics and staff them with competent people. They could use clinical officers for most of the routine needs of the society....that in itself will ease the burden on the MD's.
"We must be the change we wish to see" - Mahatma Ghandi

Offline veritas

  • Enigma
  • *
  • Posts: 3353
  • Reputation: 4790
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #103 on: August 21, 2015, 03:48:30 PM »
I have no remorse for misogynists like MK or Mya88.

I've been in this business long enough to detect an insecure woman hater who never acknowledge a woman's expertise and experience in any matter and resort to cutting them down by trolling and undermining in whichever capacity.

My last say on the matter.

Offline mya88

  • Moderator
  • Mega superstar
  • *
  • Posts: 399
  • Reputation: 2095
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #104 on: August 21, 2015, 03:52:44 PM »
I have no remorse for misogynists like MK or Mya88.

I've been in this business long enough to detect an insecure woman hater who never acknowledge a woman's expertise and experience in any matter and resort to cutting them down by trolling and undermining in whichever capacity.

My last say on the matter.

Not so fast

Actually Mya88 is a woman which renders your argument mute....do not hide behind a skirt to hide your insecurities. Just know to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I will take you head on any-day anytime...just try me... and I am not new to online forums, just so you know.
"We must be the change we wish to see" - Mahatma Ghandi

Offline veritas

  • Enigma
  • *
  • Posts: 3353
  • Reputation: 4790
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #105 on: August 21, 2015, 05:00:41 PM »
I'm sorry Mya88. I must've mistaken you for someone else.

Offline MOON Ki

  • Moderator
  • Enigma
  • *
  • Posts: 2667
  • Reputation: 5780
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #106 on: August 22, 2015, 01:20:19 AM »
I have no remorse for misogynists like MK or Mya88.

I've been in this business long enough to detect an insecure woman hater who never acknowledge a woman's expertise and experience in any matter and resort to cutting them down by trolling and undermining in whichever capacity.

My last say on the matter.

Not so fast

Actually Mya88 is a woman which renders your argument mute....do not hide behind a skirt to hide your insecurities. Just know to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I will take you head on any-day anytime...just try me... and I am not new to online forums, just so you know.

Oops.   Looks like the Detection System needs some fine-tuning.   Even after such a long time in the business.
MOON Ki  is  Muli Otieno Otiende Njoroge arap Kiprotich
Your True Friend, Brother,  and  Compatriot.

Offline MOON Ki

  • Moderator
  • Enigma
  • *
  • Posts: 2667
  • Reputation: 5780
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #107 on: August 22, 2015, 01:55:59 AM »
Moonki

I think the common wealth system is good in the sense that it allows medicine to be practiced at the primary, preventative level. Most people are required to have at least a primary care MD who follows them throughout, tracks progress, makes changes as they go.

It does have its good aspects, certainly.   Both systems do, which is why I would never categorically claim that one is better than the other (although I might indicate personal preferences here and there). 

The other thing, though, is the generic "commonwealth system" is perhaps not very helpful, given the huge variety in Commonwealth systems.   Kenya's, for example, is now a very confusing (and not particularly effective) mish-mash.  In particular, Kenyans, especially the poor, proportionately spend so much that the idea of it even resembling something like "universal healthcare" seems out of place.     It's hard to think of any basis to say that the sort of "commonwealth system" Kenya has in practice is better for the populace than America's is for Americans.

http://www.healthpolicyproject.com/index.cfm?id=KenyaCHE

Quote
Now apply this to Kenya....if the government could ensure that the basics such as childhood vaccinations for pneumonia, cholera, typhoid (not sure if these even exist) etc are mandatory, infant and child mortalities could be significantly reduced. If those local dispensaries were functioning like they did, when we were growing up, the hospitals would be empty....this is where the government needed to focus their efforts on, revamp local clinics and staff them with competent people. They could use clinical officers for most of the routine needs of the society....that in itself will ease the burden on the MD's.

Indeed.  Yet in Kenya's new system there seems to be a higher priority of PR/photo-op type of things---the sorts of things of which the public will say "I saw it with my own eyes!" and "He is really doing something!".   Like ambulances.   That "duller" expenditures might actually improve people's health and reduce the need for ambulances and even hospitals does not seem to be a consideration.
MOON Ki  is  Muli Otieno Otiende Njoroge arap Kiprotich
Your True Friend, Brother,  and  Compatriot.

Offline MOON Ki

  • Moderator
  • Enigma
  • *
  • Posts: 2667
  • Reputation: 5780
Re: Another idea (M-health) that need to pick up steam
« Reply #108 on: August 31, 2017, 12:07:32 AM »
Some recent comments on the Great Digital Future (Kenyan version) reminded me of this thread and The Coming M-Health Revolution (v. Kenya).  A lot of noise back then.  Plenty of folks unable to take their hands off it, getting all wet like there's no tomorrow  ...  M-Health is coming.  At all levels in the country.  Technological gimmicks as substitutes for reflection,  discipline, and hard work.   

Now, one thing about The Future is that it eventually and always arrives.  On time.  And I imagine that some of it has arrived in this case.

Some of my views back then:

Quote
To my mind, the matter here is quite straightforward, and  I will put it thus:

(a) What are the basic health problems that most Kenyans (Africans) face?

(b) What are the prospects that this Hello (Sema) Doctor will be able to address those?

In (a), we have, for example, diarrhea, which you mentioned.  Another is malaria.  Cholera is never too far away.   And so on, and so forth.  We know that there would be tremendous improvements in the health of Kenyans (Africans) just by having toilets and latrines, people pooping right and washing hands, having clean drinking water, etc.   No type of fancy mobile-phone "app" will change that.

So, unless people will be using mobile phones to plug their butts when they have diarrhea, or using them to whack mosquitos, it's hard to see where this particular "high tech" thing is going in that regard.  The basic problems of health in Africa will not be solved with such gimmicks.  What is required is real hard and serious work, with attention paid to the fundamentals---and that there is the ALTERNATIVE.  To the extent that anyone claims otherwise, it behooves them to explain exactly how.  And that can be done this way:

(a) A statement of the health problem.

(b) An explanation of how MPESA Telemedicine will help.

So, then.   How is M-Health (Kenya) doing these days? Any concrete numbers of happy, healthy Kenyans or whatever?  Any bright prospects of The More that is yet to come?   
MOON Ki  is  Muli Otieno Otiende Njoroge arap Kiprotich
Your True Friend, Brother,  and  Compatriot.