<
https://theconversation.com/why-the-budget-should-treat-public-health-like-transport-vital-infrastructure-with-long-term-economic-benefits-180322>
"The global pandemic might have revealed the importance of robust public health
infrastructure, but we still have trouble grasping the vital need to invest in
it.
An analogy might help. Wellington’s recently opened Transmission Gully motorway
shortens journeys from the Kāpiti Coast to the city by up to 15 minutes. First
proposed 100 years ago and finally built over the past eight years, the final
cost will be at least NZ$1.25 billion. Worth it to some, questionable to
others.
But the key value isn’t the infrastructure itself, it’s the time saved. The
efficiency and petrol saving on a journey without traffic lights and single
lanes will last long after the delays and overspend on the project are
forgotten.
Investment in public health has clear parallels with investment in major
transport projects. Time saved on a journey is akin to lives saved from a
premature end by the kinds of hidden services, like safe drinking water, that
are designed to improve, protect and promote the health of the whole
population.
But both infrastructure and public health investments can take years before the
benefits are realised. Urgent maintenance – filling pot holes or filling
hospitals – tends to crowd out strategic investment.
Public health is always the Cinderella of services in a publicly funded health
system that delivers personal as well as public services, and is always
vulnerable to budget cuts and under-investment.
Sadly, COVID has shown there are no fairy godmothers to step in and wave a
magic wand. Globally, the lack of maintenance of public health systems is
forecast to cost more than $US12.5 trillion according to the International
Monetary Fund."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
