What impact does your location have on the healthcare services you receive?

In my opinion addressing this disparity is crucial for ensuring equitable healthcare access for all populations, regardless of where they live.

In my experience, health services must get closer to the population to be able to establish better relationships, places that are difficult to access, whether due to geography or armed conflicts, security and others, cause the inequity of these services to increase.

En la práctica en ciudades, también es complejo debido a las zonas de alta y baja densidad, además de que la presencia de los hospitales y clínicas, hacen que la población acuda preferencialmente a la emergencia o consulta externa en lugar de su establecimiento de primer nivel. En los sitios rurales, en el país todavía existen sitios que a pesar de que en teoría deben tener centros de salud, el presupuesto del estado, se ha convertido en una de las limitaciones.

As an M.D., I stress that in emergencies, proximity to healthcare facilities is critically important. The ability to access prompt medical attention can be the difference between life and death. Those living in remote or underserved areas often face longer response times and fewer resources, which can result in worse outcomes during emergencies. Ensuring that emergency services are readily available and that healthcare infrastructure is robust across all regions is vital. Addressing these disparities can significantly improve survival rates and overall health outcomes in critical situations.

El contar incluso con el transporte apropiado, ya que contar con los servicios de prehospitalaria, y entrega de la primera atención, pueden ser la diferencia, no solo entre la vida y la muerte, sino también en la calidad de vida de esos supervivientes (discapacidad)

Making services more accessible increases demand, especially in areas with health risk factors. Therefore, offering and targeting preventive support regardless of where one lives, primarily utilizing artificial intelligence in screenings and first-stage guiding, at a low threshold would be beneficial to reduce the need for expensive healthcare and treatment services. For instance, a digitally enhanced low-threshold support channel for young people could reduce the need for mental health services while also improving access to such services.

As an M.D., I emphasise that preventive healthcare, including regular screenings and vaccinations, is essential for maintaining health. These measures enable early detection and prevention of diseases, significantly reducing the risk of severe health conditions and complications. Preventive services help manage and mitigate health risks before they escalate into more serious issues, ultimately enhancing longevity and quality of life. Ensuring access to these services for all populations is crucial, as disparities can lead to unequal health outcomes. By prioritising preventive care, we can promote better overall health and reduce long-term healthcare costs.

An exemple of a bad experience we encounter is when we loose a patient because there are no available Ventilator Machine despite our effiscient rescucitation; when it comes to emergency care the time is most precious, any one could have accessibilitie to these services when it is needed, however in our contry there is a huge disparity, in remote area these services are inexistent and that result on a huge number of evitable death.

As an M.D., it is essential to understand that your location can have a profound impact on health outcomes. Geographic disparities influence access to healthcare services, availability of medical professionals, and quality of care received. Rural areas often face shortages of healthcare facilities and providers, leading to delayed treatments and poorer health outcomes. Conversely, urban areas may have better access but can still face issues like overcrowded facilities and environmental health risks. Addressing these geographic disparities requires targeted policies and resource allocation to ensure equitable healthcare access and improve health outcomes across different regions.

Place is a broad and evolving concept.Some scientists proposed a framework, that promote health by targeting multiple environments where we experience health: -Natural environment, -Built environment, -Population connectivity environment, -Social and behavioral environment, -Health policy environment. The natural environment is the setting where we live, and it includes the air, land, water, plants and animals around us. The built environment is the human-made or modified environment where we live,which varies from place to place. The population connectivity environment bind us together with both human and animal populations. Social & behavioral environment .Cultural traditions, such as diet, behavior, and language can impact health