Business Ethics and Sustainability Essay PDF

Preview

Summary

How education has affected the healthcare industry...

Description

HOW EDUCATION HAS AFFECTED THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY BUSINESS ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY MODULE

By: Helena Fearnley-Brown @00503942 Tutor’s Name: Romas Malevicius Word Count: 2500 Submission Date:

Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................................3 Introduction......................................................................................................................4 How has education affected the Healthcare industry?...............................................4 Education and the Healthcare Industry................................................................................4 Russian Doll Model................................................................................................................ 6 Economic Causes and Consequences................................................................................7 Causes and Consequences for Society...............................................................................8

Solutions for the Healthcare Industry...........................................................................9 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals................................................................9 Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being................................................................................................ 10 Goal 4 – Quality Education............................................................................................................... 12

Conclusion.....................................................................................................................13 References.....................................................................................................................15 Appendices....................................................................................................................19 Appendix A – How much more do tertiary graduates earn? – OECD..............................19 Appendix B – Marmot Study (2010)....................................................................................20 Appendix C- The Power of Personality..............................................................................21 Appendix D - EIDU............................................................................................................... 22

2

Abstract The relationship between education and health has been well established through many studies and this report will discuss what the affect education has on the healthcare industry as a result. The aim is to discuss the consequences of differing levels of education on the healthcare industry and what causes this. These consequences are analysed using the Russian doll model theory and talk in detail of the economic challenges and the consequences on society. The economic and society consequences discussed are less funding for the healthcare industry and sought-after resources used through free services, the cause of this consequence is through a lack of education leading to less income and less benefits and a lack of key cognitive skills developed. The report will discuss the relationship between these causes and consequences. The report will also discuss the solutions to these challenges, such as better quality education and affordable toolkits provided to improve health. It concludes that quality education improves health directly and thus helps towards the stability of the healthcare industry by individuals not relying on their free services and being able to contribute through tax and consumer spending.

3

Introduction The purpose of this report is to discuss how the 21 st century challenge of education affects the healthcare industry and provide solutions to these challenges that link to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. There is an association between education and the health of individuals, which then affects the healthcare industry. The economic explanation, which is analysed using the Russian doll model theory, pertains to education being related to income or an occupational choice and the social explanation is that education leads to different thinking and decision-making in relation to the cognitive development during education. Solutions to this are linked to goal 3 and 4 of the SDG’s, such as providing everyone with a quality education and offering costeffective medical tools to those in the less developed countries. A number of healthcare industries across the world have different solutions to overcome these challenges. The next section will go into detail of the different aspects of the healthcare industry, how this relates to education and how the theory of the Russian doll model will be used to analyse these causes and consequences.

How has education affected the Healthcare industry? Education and the Healthcare Industry One of the 21st century challenges, according to the Royal Geographical Society (n,d.) is education. The quality of education differs around the world and can have a positive and negative effect on industries. Quality education is a basic right and a fundamental resource that underpins successful individuals and societies. However, despite the climbing rates of global literacy, there are countries where there are less opportunities for education. The graph below shows the extent of the problem by showing the number 4

of people aged 15+ with little education. It also shows the difference in education levels between continents. (Roser & Ortiz-Ospina, 2016)

Figure 1. Number of people aged 15+ with no education (in millions) by continent, 1970 to 2050

A consequence of the levels of education, as research from our world in data suggests, is that it has an effect on individual income and contributes towards long-term economic growth and towards the construction of social capital (Indicators, 2012). A further effect of education is on the healthcare industry. The healthcare industry offers clinical services that are healthcare-related, they also manufacture drugs and medical equipment and support services such as medical insurance. In short, it comprises of all businesses that are involved in the running and co-ordination of related goods and services to medical. Organisations within the healthcare industries provide an insightful microcosm of the many larger challenges the healthcare systems face around the world (Forehand, 2000). One of the foundations of the healthcare industry is that of care

5

providers, for example physicians, doctors and nurses, of whom are educated to heal and improve the health of those in their care (Savage et al, 2011).

Russian Doll Model The Russian doll model is used in this report as a theory to analyse the cause and consequences of education on the healthcare industry.

Figure 2. The Russian Doll Model

The Russian doll model is a model of sustainability and incorporates the economic domain as the core of the model. The economic domain relates to an organisation’s impact towards the economic system, it also pertains to economic performance and market presence. This is surrounded by a social domain element and concerns the impact on a social system, including aspects like labour practices and within society. These two domains are located within the environmental outer concentric circle. The environment denotes an organisations impact on the environment, including land and biodiversity (Levett, 1998). In order to ensure that economic development is sustainable, it requires taking accountability of these environmental and social limits on monotonous

6

economic decision-making and leads to pressures for militant changes in social organisation and economic practices (Kemp et al, 2005).

Economic Causes and Consequences The economy domain from the Russian doll model is used to analyse the cause of education on the healthcare industry, because poor education statistically leads to lower paid jobs and less income. Findings from OECD (2012) shows that education has a substantial impact on employment prospects and earnings tend to rise in line with people’s level of education (see Appendix A). A consequence of this is that the welleducated are employed with higher salaries and benefits such as health insurance and paid leave. This contributes to pressure being taken off healthcare industries by individuals not relying on them and being financially secure enough to rest and recover from an illness without the worry of unpaid leave. Furthermore, by being fiscally able to buy products from pharmaceuticals it boosts consumer spending. Contrariwise, people with a reduced education are more probable to work in high-risk roles. This affects the healthcare industry as it makes people vulnerable to obtaining work-related injuries and relying on the underfunded service. A further economic impact is that less income due to poor education leads to people living in poorer neighborhoods, and a study from Marmot (2010) claims that those in poorer areas are more likely to live with a disability and die earlier than those in richer neighborhoods (see Appendix B). This affects the economic performance of the industry as it sees many rely on a publicly funded service to help them recover without contributing to the economy, which leads to concerns that these systems cannot be

7

maintained with the lack of funding and increase in usage. This negatively impacts the economic performance and market presence of the healthcare industry. However, in critically analysing this, it is worth considering that if educated people are more likely to live longer, in the long run, this can have a negative impact on the healthcare system as they will have to rely on it in their older years. This also creates a further global challenge as it leads to overpopulation that affects the UN trying to reach their Sustainable Development Goals, which includes ending poverty and hunger. Nevertheless, a further analysis on the economic impact of education on healthcare is that education is a necessity for the healthcare system as it is needed to train doctors, nurses, pharmaceuticals etc. This is required for employment within the healthcare industry and boosts the economy as it increases over all GDP and reduces poverty.

Causes and Consequences for Society Using the Russian doll model, it can be conversed that education can cause a positive impact on social systems by helping develop cognitive skills. The opportunities for quality education differ across the world and aid in building vital skills and traits that are essential throughout life and key for labour practices (Billing, 2007). In turn, this has a positive consequence for the health of these individuals and therefore on the healthcare industry as skills, such as conscientiousness, can help manage their health and navigate the healthcare system. Furthermore, as discussed by Dr Roberts (2007), ‘soft skills’ are also associated with lower mortality rates (see Appendix C). These can strengthen coping skills throughout society that will help with employment and homelife to reduce stress induced illnesses, thus preventing the needs for treatment from the healthcare industry. (VCU, 2015). A

8

current example of this is the growing concern for the current generation not receiving adequate education during the COVID-19 crisis, and UNICEF (2020) warns this will have a consequence on their cognitive abilities and thus long term affects to their health. Nevertheless, healthcare industries across the world rely on the wellness of individuals for funding, especially in the countries where healthcare is not free. For example, a report published in Health Affairs (2016), shows that Americans spend $201 billion a year on treating mental health conditions. Without consumer spending, healthcare industries would lose critical money to continue running. A further analysis of this is that treatment from healthcare industries is fundamental in society to maintain a positive faith in doctors which is significant, especially in times such as the current pandemic, where faith in the healthcare industry is vital for morale.

Solutions for the Healthcare Industry United Nations Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals developed by the United Nations (2015) are “a call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet”. They are made up of 17 goals designed to transform the world, for example: goal 3 is good health and well-being, and goal 4 is quality education. These SDG’s can be used to help acquire solutions to the challenges presented to the healthcare industry.

9

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Figure 3- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all (United Nations, 2015). This is linked to the healthcare industry and its challenges because universal health coverage from the industry is integral for achieving goal 3 (UNDP, 2020). In order to help achieve this, and as a solution to the challenges presented above, the healthcare industry should introduce affordable healthcare tools that are also cheap to produce. These will aid the health of the poorer areas of the world (Sustainia, 2018). If they are unable to pay for healthcare themselves due to less income, these can help improve both the health and livelihoods in low-resource settings. A case study of this is a company called Ayzh, who have developed affordable kits that have been exceptionally successful and impacted 606,044 people in India. They empower women with information by supplying tools and training (Ayzh, n.d). They can relieve the economic challenges the industry faces as the kits educate individuals to 10

prevent them from relying on the free services of the healthcare industry that are not economically viable for the industry. They have emboldened healthcare providers, (especially those with less funding) as they can benefit from products that are cost effective. They are recommended to other healthcare industries across the world to help overcome some of the consequences of poor education on the healthcare industries. Nevertheless, when critically evaluating this, although this kit takes into account the social inequalities in education between men and women, it is only beneficial to women as it is aimed towards educating female related health issues. This is disadvantageous in helping men with less income negatively impacting the healthcare industries. However, approximately 830 women die from pregnancy, with 99% of these deaths occurring in developing countries, therefore it is clear it is an essential tool to help prevent this (WHO, 2019). It is also significant as it helps contribute to a circular economy as it can be reused by the individuals as opposed to the tools being thrown away once when visiting the doctors. An alternative solution that benefits both genders, is developing an EHealth platform that should be used around the world (Sustainia, 2018). It has been developed by ClickMedix (n,d.) and has impacted over 350,000 lives. This is a solution for the economic challenges to the healthcare industry as it enables doctors to serve more patients at lower costs, and also allows for local health workers in poorer areas, that are not as well educated, to be able to learn from medical experts abroad. This helps achieve goal 3 as it helps screen more patients quicker and efficiently to improve the health and well-being of patients.

11

Goal 4 – Quality Education

Figure 4 - Goal 4: Quality Education

Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all (United Nations, 2015). This links to the healthcare industry because different levels of education have clear consequences on the healthcare industry and improving education can help with these consequences. An obvious solution for the effects of poor education on the healthcare industry is to improve the quality of education around the world. This can help develop cognitive skills and can improve chances of employment with better health benefits. Nevertheless, the practicalities of this are that it is expensive and there is a lack of funding for the less developed areas. A way to implement this solution is through the use of EIDU (n,d.). EIDU have developed a learning platform that has a mission to provide quality education for all children in the developing world (see Appendix D). This is significant because it is cost effective and helps achieve goal 4. This also helps overcome the challenge of lack of training for potential healthcare workers. The platform can be used to train and teach 12

latent doctors and can be used to develop key skills in children that they can later use for labour practices and to help reduce stress induce illnesses that would burden the healthcare industry. Nevertheless, when analysing this, it is important to note that this tool relies on the use of technology which is not as easily accessible for everyone, thus being counterproductive. Furthermore, as it is online, it does not give the added benefits that face-to-face quality education provides, such as strong communication skills that those in the healthcare industry need, thus presenting a different challenge for the industry of personable skills being missed within their employees.

Conclusion Overall, education is linked to health and has an inclusive effect on the healthcare industry. In discussing how education as affected the healthcare industry it was discoursed that well educated individuals are more likely to be in employment with higher paid roles that result in low economic hardship. As a result of these, and benefits such as paid leave for sickness, the well-educated have a greater control of their health. Furthermore, according to Ross (1995), the well-educated are less likely to smoke, get check-ups as they have health benefits from their jobs and more likely to exercise. This all has a positive consequence on the healthcare industry, as they are under-resourced and have to cope with an influx of patients, so by educated individuals looking after themselves and being able to afford their own healthcare, they are helping sought after resources go on others that need it. The solutions provided in the report suggest that affordable tools should be developed to help provide healthcare to everyone around the world and are cost effective for the 13

industry to produce them cheaper. This is valuable in improving the health of individuals and reduce spending for the industry. When evaluating this, it can be also linked to the goal 4 of quality education as these affordable tools also educate individuals on how to take better care of themselves and how they can utilise these tools without relying on the free services from the industry. A further solution provided suggests educating more people using platforms such as EIDU to help prevent the reliance on healthcare industries and to also help train potential healthcare workers. However, in evaluating this, these platforms rely on smartphones, and using the life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental burden that is associated with the unnecessary waste they create when they are disposed of, this solution does help towards achieving quality education and aiding the healthcare industry but is not environmentally sustainable. In conclusion, there are positive and negative impacts of education on healthcare industries. A good education is required to keep the healthcare industry running by training potential healthcare workers. However, the negative consequences of education are all down to the lack of education that is provided and therefore it is important goal 4 of a quality education is achieved in order to help achieve goal 3 of good health and well-being.

References 

Ayzh. ayzh - Life Saving ~ Life Changing. Retrieved 10 January 2021, from http://www.ayz...