Health in Caphiria: Difference between revisions

The [[Ministry of Health (Caphiria)|Ministry of Health]] is allocated approximately $1.5 trillion annually on health expenditures, with 48% of that funding the NHS. $200 billion is earmarked for the Health Services Fund, which is used to support vulnerable demographics, such as seniors, minors, and those with disabilities. Caphiria has performed close to, or above the average on the majority of BIS health indicators since the late 20th century. Identified weaknesses of Caphiria's system were comparatively higher infant mortality rate, the prevalence of chronic conditions, long wait times, poor availability of after-hours care, and a lack of prescription drugs and dental coverage

=Healthcare=

{{Main|National Health Service (Caphiria)|l1=National Health Service}}

The NHS, under the direction of the Ministry of Health, is the ministry responsible for overseeing Caphiria's healthcare, including its public policies and implementations. This includes the maintenance and improvement of the health of the Caphirian population, which is "among the healthiest in the world as measured by longevity, lifestyle and effective use of the public health care system".

Caphiria has a good and sufficient water supply with access to dozens of freshwater lakes and rivers, yet, especially due to droughts, common in the summer (notably in Southern Caphiria), water shortages can frequently occur. Caphirians consume a very high amount of mineral water, the highest compared to equivalent neighbors: in 2020, the average person in Caphiria drank 116 liters. According to studies, 40 million people in Caphiria annually are confronted with at least one slight water shortage, and 18% of Caphirian families have been recorded as having irregular distribution patterns. Some water distribution is also uneven, and can be explained by economic factors; for example, people in [[Magenevum]], Caphiria's richest province, drink nine times more bottled water than [[Isuriana]], one of the country's poorest.

Food is naturally grown - with no artificial additives, preservatives, drugs or pesticides at any stage of its production - in a manner that used to come at great cost to potential productivity. Nowadays, genetically modified crops and animals confer the same advantages as drugs and chemicals could offer to the agricultural industry but without side effects to consumers. Regardless of wealth, Caphirians will eat fish or other white meat on a weekly basis while red meats are reserved for dinner parties that may happen anywhere from once to five times a week, depending on your position in society. Nuts, vegetables and bread are staples of a traditional diet, eaten as meals or snacks almost constantly. Natural condiments such as garum, tomato sauce or pepper add taste without the use of artificial sweeteners or colors.

Being a relatively warm and sunny country, Caphirians are often exposed to direct radiation from the sun (ultraviolet radiation), which, if not protected from sun cream or block, can create carcinogenic skin diseases, such as skin cancer. Despite this, the greatest risk from exposure to radiation is found indoors. Caphirians are also at the highest risk of acute radiation exposure due to the number of nuclear reactors and facilities across the Imperium.

That being said, when comparing the historical safety record of civilian nuclear energy with other forms of electrical generation, there were just 39 on-the-job deaths of nuclear power plant workers worldwide, while during the same time period, there were 6,400 on-the-job deaths of coal power plant workers, 1,200 on-the-job deaths of natural gas power plant workers and members of the general public caused by natural gas power plants, and 4,000 deaths of members of the general public caused by hydroelectric power plants.

By conventional standards, 3.1% of citizens could be classified as obese - e.g. having a BMI over 30 - and 4.3% of the population (non-citizens included) could be called underweight or malnourished - e.g. having a BMI under 18.5. These standards would declare only 7.4% of residents as living at an unhealthy weight. The same standards would say that 20.7% of male citizens and 44.9% of female citizens could be classified as overweight. The disproportionate number of women carrying more weight than some societies might consider normal is attributable to the Caphirian preference for voluptuous female bodies, accentuating the statistically desired 7:10 waist-to-hip ratio. In the most recent public census, where detailed health exams were given to every citizen, the average waist size for woman was 31.5in and average hip size was 41in. Census data across the centuries shows little variety on this matter.

Caphiria has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. The average national life expectancy in Caphiria is 81.3 years. By gender, the average is higher for women at 83.6 compared to 78.9 for men. This can be explored further by going into detail based off of social class: Obviously the Patrician class has the highest life expectancy at 86 years, the Equestrians at 81, Upper-Plebs at 78, Lower-Plebs at 76, and the Indigeni at 68 years on average.

Caphiria also has a very low rate of infant mortality, that of 5.51 out of 1000 people. Its birthrate is among the highest in the developed world, at 1.73 births per woman.

Still, contraception is readily available as a pill or physical countermeasure, which helped contributed to the facility of prostitution, a completely legal, if disreputable, profession. The infamy of prostitution has not stopped the Senate from offering health and wage coverage in the event one becomes pregnant or from directly running public brothels.

[[category:Caphiria]]

[[category:Health in Caphiria]]