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Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015

C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia represented the highest proportion of those treated in the psychiatric hospital in Barbados in 2007. Also common were mental health conditions relating to psychoactive substance misuse. Health systems: In 2012 government expenditure on health was 4.1 per cent of GDP, equivalent to US$615 per capita. In the most recent survey, conducted between 1997 and 2010, there were 181 doctors, and 486 nurses and midwives per 100,000 people. Additionally, in the period 2007–12, 100 per cent of births were attended by qualified health staff and, in 2013, 90 per cent of oneyear olds were immunised with one dose of measles. In 2010 the UN estimated that 100 per cent of people were using an improved drinking water source and had access to adequate sanitation facilities. The most recent survey, conducted in the period 2000–11, reports that Barbados has 93 pharmaceutical personnel per 100,000 people. Barbados has a national health service, and the general health profile and life expectancy of a developed country. The largest hospital and main health care centre in Barbados is the government-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the outskirts of the capital, Bridgetown. Bayview Hospital, also on the outskirts of Bridgetown, is a major private hospital. There is also a network of district hospitals and polyclinics spread throughout the island delivering publicly funded health care. Barbados has a small but established manufacturing base for pharmaceuticals. The Barbados Drug Service conducts an annual open tender for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, procuring drugs from local manufacturers and, more extensively, from sources in the USA, Canada, South America and Europe. The most recent act of parliament relating to mental health in Barbados is the Mental Health Act of 1985. Mental health is also covered in general health policy. Health MDGs: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mature in 2015, but monitoring of progress is ongoing due to the time it takes to collect and analyse data from each country. In order to achieve the targets for the reduction of child mortality that form MDG 4, Barbados should reduce under-five deaths per 1,000 live births to six and increase measles immunisation to 100 per cent by 2015. In 2013 under-five mortality stood at 14 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 20 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2011, and measles immunisation at 90 per cent. This data suggests that the country is unlikely to achieve MDG 4. Under-five mortality 20 15 10 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Under-five mortality per 1,000 live births 2015 MDG 4 target 80 70 146 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 5 Life expectancy 1980 1990 2000 2013 Life expectancy Life expectancy in years 60 Mortality by cause of death (% of all deaths), 2012 Communicable diseases, Injuries maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions Non-communicable diseases Tuberculosis: Incidence and mortality 1990 2000 2010 Mortality excluding cases comorbid with HIV (per100,000 people) Incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people) – including cases comorbid with HIV 6 5 4 3 2 1 0


Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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