[00:00.10]From VOA Learning English,
[00:02.41]this is the Health Report.
[00:08.03]The World Health Organization says
[00:10.33]everyone should have a right
[00:10.46]to the health care services they need
[00:13.70]without risking financial ruin.
[00:16.78]A new WHO Report is urging countries
[00:22.27]to provide health care design
[00:24.64]to meet the special needs of their citizens.
[00:28.61]In 2005, all 194 members of the World Health Organization
[00:36.28]set a goal of providing universal health coverage.
[00:41.36]But very few countries have reached that target,
[00:46.18]most people must use their own financial resources
[00:51.07]to pay for the health care they need.
[00:53.66]Since health needs differ from one country to another,
[00:58.78]the new report urges every country
[01:02.43]to create its own system of health coverage.
[01:06.86]It says the services should include prevention,
[01:11.89]treatment, rehabilitation and reduction of pain,
[01:17.22]and the health care should involve communities
[01:21.65], health centers and hospitals.
[01:24.14]Christopher Dye is head of the WHO's
[01:28.87]Office of Health Information, HIV/AIDS,
[01:33.26]Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases.
[01:38.74]"Every year approximately 150 million people
[01:43.12]in the world suffer catastrophic health expenditure.
[01:46.46]That is they have to pay out of their own pockets
[01:49.94]for health care to a degree that they cannot possibly afford.
[01:53.48]So, how do we put in place mechanisms
[01:56.42]for financial risk protection,
[01:58.61]which will ensure that catastrophic health expenditures
[02:01.70]are reduced to a minimum?"
[02:03.35]The report shows how research can help countries
[02:07.84]develop a system that makes sure their citizens
[02:12.56]receive the care they need without suffering financial ruin.
[02:17.80]The WHO says the studies should be done
[02:22.48]in low- and high-income countries
[02:25.62]because the poorer countries have special problems
[02:29.85]they have to work out for themselves.
[02:33.30]Dr. Dye said some European countries
[02:37.77]have continued supporting their social and health services
[02:42.10]even during this period of financial difficulty.
[02:46.69]He says that decision is paying off
[02:51.17]in better health for their people.
[02:54.17]"Saving money on health care is often a false kind of economy.
[02:59.44]If you save money on health care in the short term,
[03:03.18]you may end up spending more in the long term.
[03:05.82]So, cutting the cost of health budgets
[03:09.06]is not an enlightened policy."
[03:11.35]Dr. Dye estimates that the cost of medical care
[03:15.69]is increasing very quickly.
[03:18.37]Because of that, he says governments must find ways
[03:23.85]to pay for health care during good times and bad,
[03:27.73]and work harder to keep costs under control.
[03:32.07]And that's the Health Report from VOA Learning English.