World Health Organization’s Ranking of the World’s Health Systems

World Health Organization’s Ranking of the World’s Health Systems







Some people fancy all health care debates to be a case of Canadian Health Care vs. American. Not so. According to the World Health Organization’s ranking of the world’s health systems, neither Canada nor the USA ranks in the top 25.

Improving the Canadian Healthcare System does not mean we must emulate the American system, but it may mean that perhaps we can learn from countries that rank better than both Canada and the USA at keeping their citizens healthy.

World Health Organization Ranking; The World’s Health Systems

1 France 2 Italy 3 San Marino 4 Andorra 5 Malta 6 Singapore 7 Spain 8 Oman 9 Austria 10 Japan 11 Norway 12 Portugal 13 Monaco 14 Greece 15 Iceland 16 Luxembourg 17 Netherlands 18 United Kingdom 19 Ireland 20 Switzerland 21 Belgium 22 Colombia 23 Sweden 24 Cyprus 25 Germany 26 Saudi Arabia 27 United Arab Emirates 28 Israel 29 Morocco 30 Canada 31 Finland 32 Australia 33 Chile 34 Denmark 35 Dominica 36 Costa Rica 37 USA 38 Slovenia 39 Cuba 40 Brunei 41 New Zealand 42 Bahrain 43 Croatia 44 Qatar 45 Kuwait 46 Barbados 47 Thailand 48 Czech Republic 49 Malaysia 50 Poland 51 Dominican Republic 52 Tunisia 53 Jamaica 54 Venezuela 55 Albania 56 Seychelles 57 Paraguay 58 South Korea 59 Senegal 60 Philippines 61 Mexico 62 Slovakia 63 Egypt 64 Kazakhstan

65 Uruguay 66 Hungary 67 Trinidad and Tobago 68 Saint Lucia 69 Belize 70 Turkey 71 Nicaragua 72 Belarus 73 Lithuania 74 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 75 Argentina 76 Sri Lanka 77 Estonia 78 Guatemala 79 Ukraine 80 Solomon Islands 81 Algeria 82 Palau 83 Jordan 84 Mauritius 85 Grenada 86 Antigua and Barbuda 87 Libya 88 Bangladesh 89 Macedonia 90 Bosnia-Herzegovina 91 Lebanon 92 Indonesia 93 Iran 94 Bahamas 95 Panama 96 Fiji 97 Benin 98 Nauru 99 Romania 100 Saint Kitts and Nevis 101 Moldova 102 Bulgaria 103 Iraq 104 Armenia 105 Latvia 106 Yugoslavia 107 Cook Islands 108 Syria 109 Azerbaijan 110 Suriname 111 Ecuador 112 India 113 Cape Verde 114 Georgia 115 El Salvador 116 Tonga 117 Uzbekistan 118 Comoros 119 Samoa 120 Yemen 121 Niue 122 Pakistan 123 Micronesia 124 Bhutan 125 Brazil 126 Bolivia 127 Vanuatu

128 Guyana 129 Peru 130 Russia 131 Honduras 132 Burkina Faso 133 Sao Tome and Principe 134 Sudan 135 Ghana 136 Tuvalu 137 Ivory Coast 138 Haiti 139 Gabon 140 Kenya 141 Marshall Islands 142 Kiribati 143 Burundi 144 China 145 Mongolia 146 Gambia 147 Maldives 148 Papua New Guinea 149 Uganda 150 Nepal 151 Kyrgystan 152 Togo 153 Turkmenistan 154 Tajikistan 155 Zimbabwe 156 Tanzania 157 Djibouti 158 Eritrea 159 Madagascar 160 Vietnam 161 Guinea 162 Mauritania 163 Mali 164 Cameroon 165 Laos 166 Congo 167 North Korea 168 Namibia 169 Botswana 170 Niger 171 Equatorial Guinea 172 Rwanda 173 Afghanistan 174 Cambodia 175 South Africa 176 Guinea-Bissau 177 Swaziland 178 Chad 179 Somalia 180 Ethiopia 181 Angola 182 Zambia 183 Lesotho 184 Mozambique 185 Malawi 186 Liberia 187 Nigeria 188 Democratic Republic of the Congo 189 Central African Republic 190 Myanmar

Source: World Health Organization

Sex and Healthy Relationships

          Sex and Healthy Relationships
In a healthy relationship, both partners are able to express their feelings and respect each other’s boundaries about sex. You shouldn’t have to have sex to keep your partner. You may feel comfortable kissing or holding hands but not want to go any further. That’s ok.Deciding whether you want to have sex or when you should is a decision you should make when it feels right for YOU. In a healthy relationship, your partner respects your decisions, even when they don’t like them.

If you are thinking about when to have sex, keep in mind:

• You should feel comfortable with your decision.
• Talk with your partner about safe sex practices, like getting tested for STIs and considering birth control options.
• Be honest with yourself and your partner. If you’re not ready, that’s ok and your partner should respect it.
• If something scares you or makes you feel uncomfortable, you can say no at any time.
• You have the right to talk openly and honestly about your fears, worries and feelings.
• If your partner tries to threaten or pressure you into having sex, it can be a sign of an unhealthy relationship. You deserve better.
• No matter how long you’ve been with someone or how many times you’ve done something, you have the right to say no at anytime for any reason.
• If someone won’t take no for an answer and repeatedly pressures you verbally, emotionally or physically it can be a sign of abuse.
• You have control over your body, and no one else has the right to tell you what to do with it.

Why is It So Complicated?

Having sex can raise the intensity of emotions that people feel for each other — whether you’re in a serious or casual relationship. At times, this elevation is a good and enjoyable thing, but sometimes it makes a hard situation worse. It’s important that you feel ready and confident in your decisions about having sex.

Even if you are in a healthy relationship and would like to have sex with your partner, some beliefs or expectations might make this decision more complicated. You and the people in your life might have different ideas about when or what type of sexual activity is alright and what is not.

Here are a few ways this might happen:

• Your family does not allow you to date, let alone have sex and there is a risk they would find out.
• In your culture or religion, it is expected that you wait until marriage. You might agree, disagree or be questioning this belief.
• You feel that your friends or peers will not agree with your decision and you care about their opinions.

You might feel like you’re choosing between what you want and what others want, yet you might also share some of the same beliefs. Just remember that you are capable of making your own decisions and creating your own set of values.

Learn to Communicate

Only you know what’s on your mind, so unless you express yourself, the other person is only left guessing. Communication is always key to a healthy relationship, and the physical part of it is no different. It can be uncomfortable being completely open when it comes to talking about sex, even with a girlfriend or boyfriend. Still, it is important to push past that and let them know what you like, what you don’t like or if you don’t want to go any further. Encourage your partner to be open as well because it takes practice and patience.

Learning to listen is equally, and possibly even more, essential to strong communication. When you show the other person that what they say matters to you, they will be more likely to trust you and listen to you in return. Sex and intimacy are strongly affected by how both people feel, so it really pays off to create a positive atmosphere.

Break Out of the Box

When people are not sure how to act in a certain situation or not sure what others will think is cool, they tend to try and be who they should be and not who they really are. A guy might be led to believe that he should have sex with a lot of girls and not get emotionally attached to them. On the other hand, a girl might be led to believe that having sex with too many guys is “slutty,” and that girls should “play hard to get.” Stereotypes like these can make it harder for everyone to be honest about what they really want and can also make them feel self-conscious.

A relationship will be stronger and more real when both people can truly be themselves both inside and outside of the bedroom. When we question these “rules,” we respect our partner for who they are instead of who they “should be.”

What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is any type of unwanted sexual contact. Forcing or pressuring someone to do something they don’t want or don’t consent to is sexual assault. No one should ever take advantage of you sexually when you are asleep, intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. This can be a very serious and dangerous form of abuse. Learn more about sexual abuse and what to do if you experience it.

Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women

Both men and women experience sexual dysfunction, from her vaginal dryness to his erectile dysfunction, to low libido in either partner. But there are ways to treat sexual problems like these and enjoy sex again.By Diana RodriguezMedically Reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Sexual dysfunction can take many forms — it’s not limited to erectile dysfunction or lack of interest in sex, often referred to as a low libido. Sexual dysfunction can involve pain during intercourse, an inability to maintain an erection, or difficulty experiencing an orgasm.

Though there are many causes of diminished libido and sexual dysfunction in men and women, there are also many ways to increase libido and rekindle the joy of sex once you identify the problem.Sexual Dysfunction in Women

Sexual dysfunction in women is grouped into different disorders: sexual pain, problems with desire, arousal problems, and orgasm difficulty. Changes in hormone levels, medical conditions, and other factors can contribute to low libido and other forms of sexual dysfunction in women.

Specifically, sexual dysfunction in women may be due to:

• Vaginal dryness. This can lead to low libido and problems with arousal and desire, as sex can be painful when the vagina isn't properly lubricated. Vaginal dryness can result from hormonal changes that occur during and after menopause or while breastfeeding, for example. Psychological issues, like anxiety about sex, can also cause vaginal dryness. And anticipation of painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness may, in turn, decrease a woman’s desire for sex.
• Low libido. Lack of sexual desire can also be caused by lower levels of the hormone estrogen. Fatigue, depression, and anxiety can also lead to low libido, as can certain medications, including some antidepressants.
• Difficulty achieving orgasm.Orgasm disorders, such as delayed orgasms or inability to have one at all, can affect both men and women. Again, some antidepressant medications can also cause these problems.
• Pain during sex. Pain is sometimes from a known cause, such as vaginal dryness or endometriosis. But sometimes the cause of painful sex is elusive. Known as vulvodynia or vulvar vestibulitis, experts don't know what’s behind this mysterious type of chronic, painful intercourse. A burning sensation may accompany pain during sex.

Sexual Dysfunction in MenThe types of sexual dysfunction men may experience include:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED).ED can be caused by medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, or by anxiety about having sex. Depression, fatigue, and stress can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
• Ejaculation problems. These include premature ejaculation (ejaculation that occurs too early during intercourse) and the inability to ejaculate at all. Causes include medications, like some antidepressants, anxiety about sex, a history of sexual trauma (such as a partner being unfaithful), and strict religious beliefs.
• Low libido. Psychological issues like stress and depression, as well as anxiety about having sex also can lead to a decreased or no sexual desire. Decreased hormone levels (particularly if testosterone is low), physical illnesses, and medication side effects may also diminish libido in men.

Dealing With Sexual Dysfunction

All couples should be able to enjoy a healthy sex life — an important part of a relationship. If you are experiencing sexual dysfunction, bring up your concerns with your doctor. You can often correct your problem by:

• Getting an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment of any underlying medical condition
• Talking to your partner openly about your sexual relationship
• Avoiding alcohol, smoking, and drug use
• Managing stress, anxiety, and depression
• Getting creative and re-energizing your sexual routine

Good communication can unlock closed doors in the bedroom, so start by talking to your partner about physical and emotional intimacy. And, if you suspect a medical condition, talk to your doctor about what could be going on with your body.

Learn more in the Everyday Health Sexual Health Center.

TOP 10: Global Health Insurance Providers

TOP 10: Global Health Insurance
Providers

With healthcare costs going up every year, it is imperative that every citizen have health insurance. Here are the biggest and the most well known health insurance providers from across the world.

10. Humana- It is one of the biggest healthcare insurance providers in USA, with more than 11 million members. Humana enjoys a sterling reputation among customers, and provides health insurance services in all 50 U.S. states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Humana also has international business interests in Western Europe and Asia.

9. Allianz- One of the biggest insurance providers in the world, Allianz is a Germany company. It is well known for its international reach, and for providing international health insurance for employees. The company says that claims are processed within 48 hours, and that 95% of their clients renew with them.

8. AIA Insurance Group- This Hong Kong based pan-Asian group is offers a comprehensive range of health insurance plans ranging from medical, hospitalisation and long term care to critical illness.  Basic critical illness plans in the market provide coverage for 30 common critical illnesses such as cancer, stroke, heart disease and kidney disease, and usually terminate after the first claim is made. The company also has plans that help compensate for lost income.

7. Aetna Foundation- USA’s Aetna Foundation is one of the most prominent healthcare insurance providers in the country. Aetna offers health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability, and long-term care insurance and employee benefits, primarily through employer-paid (fully or partly) insurance and benefit programs, and through Medicare. 

6. Blue Cross Blue Shield- The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is a federation of 37 separate health insurance organizations and companies in the United States. Combined, they directly or indirectly provide health insurance to over 100 million Americans. In terms of number of people covered, BCBSA is one of biggest health insurance providers in the world, and also act as administrators of Medicare in many states or regions of the US.

5.  Axa- Axa is one of the most well known and biggest health insurance providers working in the UK. The company provides a wide range of private medical insurance plans for individuals, families and businesses.  Axa PPP Healthcare caters to the international market, and was the winner of best international private medical insurance provider in the UK’s 2012 health insurance awards. Axa is also well known in the Gulf region and has a strong presence in Asia.

4. Aviva- A British multinational, Aviva is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has around 43 million customers across 21 countries. Aviva provides health insurance in countries like Ireland and India, and offers a number of unique benefits to its members like nurse on call, treatment of back and neck injuries and screening for various diseases.

3. United Healthcare- United Healthcare is an operating division of UnitedHealth Group, the largest single health carrier in the United States; and covers more than 7 million people. Apart from personal health insurance, United Healthcare also offers programmes for employers, and manages and facilitates UnitedHealthcare healthcare services for state-sponsored public and Medicaid programs and their beneficiaries.

2.Express Scripts-  Express Scripts is an American company which provides integrated pharmacy benefit management service,  benefit-design consultation; drug-utilization review; formulary management; and medical and drug data analysis services to manage drug plans for health plans, self-insured employers and government agencies; including the Department of Defence.

1. Zurich Insurance Group- As of 2013,
Zurich Insurance Group was ranked as the 75th largest company in the world. Zurich Insurance Group is the biggest company working in Switzerland, and is well known for providing insurance for healthcare organizations; apart from personal healthcare for various demographic segments. Their plans vary around the world; and they also offer lifestyle plans, coverage for broken bones and fractures for seniors, holiday travel insurance, safeguard plans and ‘peace of mind’ plans, which safeguards a policyholder's current standard of living in case of redundancy, disability or Accident Death & Disability. Zurich Insurance Group also provides coverage for families; safeguarding them from financial difficulties caused by accidents, as well as Accident Death & Disability, accidental hospital income (senior care) and accidental medical expenses.