Comparative policy report
Introduction
Health or social care policy in different countries focus on providing support to a specific community or age group of people (Glasby, 2017). The policy helps in promoting and providing support to the community. The health policy in a country incorporates economic support, delivering social value to a specific community.
Here, the study focuses on doing a comparative analysis of a specific health policy of the UK as a high income country and Malawi as a low income country. For this purpose, both the country’s healthcare policies related to the support to elders have been considered.
Discussion
In general, the comparison between the policies of a high and low income country reflects a major gap. The gap exists due to the economic strength as well as the approach of the government. Being a high income country, the government UK has been active in providing support and developing policies for the elders for a long time. The government of the UK developed the policy for elders in 2010 which targets the framework between 2010 and 2015 (GOV UK, 2022).
While Malawi as a low income country has shown interest in the development of policy for the elders in 2016. The major difference between each country involves the progressive thought of the UK to focus on the need of elders earlier than Malawi. By considering both the country’s policies for the elders, it is also understood that the core focus policy is different in both countries. For example, the policy of Malawi focuses on developing a comprehensive framework that can support the elders in terms of social, economic, and cultural value (GOV MW, 2022).
The government mainly focuses on integrating the elders into the mainstream to harness their productive capacities that can benefit the country. It reflects the fact that the government focuses on incorporating the elders into the mainstream to gain benefit from their capacities. On the other hand, the policy for elders in the UK majorly focuses on providing support to the elders.
In the UK, the ageing population has been increasing for a long time. The continuous growth of life expectancy in the country is leading to an increased ageing population. This has become a major reason for having a higher number of elders who are dependent on pensions. Thus, the government UK has focused on providing better retirement life to the elders.
Along with this, the policy also focuses on developing the capabilities of the elders. The purpose of developing capabilities is to make a contribution to the elders of the society. Further, developing personal responsibilities of the elders has also been focused on by the government of the UK to support the elders. In consideration of the policy for elders in the UK and Malawi, it can be said that the ageing population has been a major factor for both the country.
However, both countries have a different approach to treating the elders under the circumstances of the ageing population. For example, the government of the UK focuses on developing the capabilities of elders to receive their contribution to society as well as developing personal capabilities. While Malawi as a low income country mostly focuses on receiving contributions from the elders (GOV MW, 2022). Another key difference identified between the policy of both countries involves the focus on needs.
The policy of Malawi majorly focuses on the basic needs of elders and their issues. For example, elders’ issues with nutritious food, loans, transport, negligence from family members, land or property ownership related complications, and providing support to the elders working for their income have majorly been the focus. On the other hand, the policy for elders in the UK focuses on needs such as loneliness, quality of life, and access to local services (GOV UK, 2022).
It simply reflects that being a low income country the elders in Malawi face difficulty to live their basic life which is why government focuses on fulfilling the basic needs. While social care related aspects are majorly focused on by the government of the UK as the elders are more vulnerable to social care aspects like negligence, and loneliness.
Conclusion
It is concluded by doing the comparative analysis that the policy for elders in the UK and Malawi has major differences in terms of the implications and considered factors. The government of the UK majorly focused on implementing the policy to improve the quality of life of elders. While the government of Malawi aims to fulfil the basic needs of elders in the country.
References
Glasby, J., 2017. Understanding health and social care. 01 ed. London: Policy Press.
GOV MW, 2022. NATIONAL POLICY FOR OLDER PERSONS. [Online]
Available at: http://www.reforms.gov.mw/psrmu/sites/default/files/National%20Policy%20for%20Older%20Persons.pdf
[Accessed 19 October 2022].
GOV UK, 2022. 2010 to 2015 government policy: older people. [Online]
Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-older-people/2010-to-2015-government-policy-older-people
[Accessed 19 October 2022].
