Ethical Crisis in Western Healthcare

Globally the average lifespan has increased in most countries due to the rise in technology, increased globalization of resources, and the decrease in physical labor. While having a longer life and more time has its benefits, the longer we stay on the planet the more resources are required to maintain a healthy, functioning, and economically viable life and society.  As more people age, keeping everyone healthy becomes a challenge not faced before. The obvious challenges of an aging population are currently being heightened by fewer people entering the medical field, a declining young population in developed countries, questionable global economic futures, the rising cost of care, the inability to provide universal access to the latest medical care, increases in mental illness and the lack of the ability to control global diseases. Keeping the population healthy and providing care is of utmost importance but, these barriers must be closely examined and eliminated or controlled for us to thrive.   In this episode, we walk through some of the major issues facing care in the medical field with Dr. Marc David Munk a writer and healthcare executive who, according to the Advisory Board, a US healthcare consultancy, has "a reputation as an innovator. Dr. Munk is recognized as a thought leader in the area of value-based, consumer-facing healthcare and global health. Dr. Munk served as the Chief Medical Officer for Clinics and Retail Pharmacy at CVS Health.     Topics discussed in this episode: - Twisted Start [6:09] - The Story [12:06] - The Tax of the Medical Field [14:00] -  What Changed [15:30] - Caretaker Care [20:13] - Holistic [21:02] - Bring Humanity to Care [23:37] - Tradition [26:30] -  Document [32:06] - Pharma [34:20] - Free Healthcare [38:25] - Service to the Underserved [42:06] - Longer Lives [45:00] - Join the Profession [48:45]   Quote: “I believe healthcare should be free, every country I believe thinks this way but, the question is how do we get there.”   Guest Bio: Dr. Marc-David Munk a Canadian/American, who has emerged as a prominent figure in healthcare, driving change in emergency medicine and healthcare management across the U.S. and internationally. His career began as an emergency medicine professor and as the medical director of Qatar’s national ambulance service. Advancing to executive roles, he served as Chief Medical Officer for elite physician groups and as the regional President for an international division of a leading American healthcare system. Raised in Switzerland and Canada, Dr. Munk’s educational path led him to earn a BA in philosophy and religion from Colgate University. He then attained an MPH in international health from Boston University. His medical training was completed at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, followed by an emergency medicine residency and an international health fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from Peru’s Gorgas Program and a master’s in healthcare management from Harvard University. Throughout his time as a medical professional, Dr. Munk has been known as an innovator who does not want to lose touch with the reason, he got into medicine to help people.     Connect with us: - Subscribe to the Project Good Work Blog to read the article version of the interview. - If you have a passion for an unserved community, a social justice problem or want to change minds contact Project Good Work at www.ProjectGood.Work to start your project of change today.