Every year on April 7th, the world comes together to celebrate World Health Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about global health issues and advocating for access to healthcare for all. Established by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Health Day serves as a reminder of the importance of health in our lives and underscores the need for concerted efforts to address health challenges worldwide.

The theme for World Health Day 2024 is ‘My health, my right’.

This year’s theme was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.

The global community continues to grapple with various health obstacles, including:

Epidemics and Chronic Ailments, which impose significant burdens on individuals and healthcare systems, resulting in increased rates of illness and death.

Natural Calamities such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, causing immediate casualties and injuries.

Climate Shifts that lead to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecological destruction, amplifying health hazards such as heat-related illnesses, respiratory ailments, and diseases transmitted through food, water, and vectors like mosquitoes.

Health Disparities, which disproportionately affect marginalized groups such as the impoverished, elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, due to limited access to healthcare, insufficient infrastructure, and socioeconomic inequalities.

Ensuring the right to health is a fundamental human entitlement. Every individual should be able to avail themselves of necessary health services without facing financial burdens, regardless of when or where they require them.

However, the challenge of accessing quality healthcare persists for many across the globe.

The 2023 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Global Monitoring Report jointly published by The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank revealed an alarming stagnation in the progress towards providing people everywhere with quality, affordable, and accessible health care. This report exposes a stark reality based on the latest available evidence – more than half of the world’s population is still not covered by essential health services. Furthermore, 2 billion people face severe financial hardship when paying out-of-pocket for the services and products they needed.

Achieving universal health coverage by 2030 is crucial for fulfilling the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and realizing the fundamental human right to health.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has a few standards related to health and healthcare, such as ISO 9001 quality management systems applying to healthcare sectors, ISO 13485  medical device quality management systems specific for medical device industry, ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management systems for reduction of occupational injuries and diseases, including promoting and protecting physical and mental health of workers and ISO 15189 for medical laboratories. These standards help ensure that healthcare providers and manufacturers maintain high standards of quality and safety in their products and services, as well as the health and safety of their workers.

ISO 13485 Medical Device Quality Management Systems – Requirements for regulatory purposes.

ISO 13485 is an international standard that outlines the requirements for a quality management system (QMS) specific to the medical devices industry. It is designed to be used by organizations throughout the life cycle of a medical device, from initial conception to production and post-production, including final decommission and disposal. It also covers aspects such as storage, distribution, installation and servicing, and the provision of associated services.

Implementing ISO 13485 can bring several benefits to organizations involved in the manufacture, design, distribution, and servicing of medical devices, including:

• Compliance with regulatory requirements: help organizations meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate their commitment to quality and safety.
• Improved product quality: ISO 13485 provides a framework for quality management that emphasizes risk management, process control, and continuous improvement thus improving the quality and reliability of their products, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction: help to meet customer needs and expectations, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Improved risk management: ISO 13485 requires companies to establish risk management processes that help identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with their products.
• Access to new markets: Many countries require medical device manufacturers to comply with ISO 13485 as a condition of market access. By implementing ISO 13485, organizations can expand their market reach and take advantage of new business opportunities.

Overall, standard like ISO 13485, help ensure medical devices meet all the regulatory requirements for quality.

For more information on ISO 13485: https://gicgrp.com/certifications/iso-13485-medical-device-quality-management-system/

On the occasion of World Health Day, let’s reiterate our dedication to constructing a more equitable and healthier global community.

Collectively, we have the power to effect change and work towards a world where access to health is genuinely considered a fundamental human entitlement.

References:

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/

For more information about the article, you may contact:

Lydia Annie Ho
Regional Marketing Manager
Email                : lydiaannie.ho@gicgrp.com
Tel                    : +65 6742 3075