In today’s interconnected world, society often amplifies narratives that suggest impending doom or catastrophic events, leading to widespread anxiety and fear about the future. With the rise of social media and 24-hour news cycles, sensationalized headlines and viral content can quickly spread, shaping public perception and fueling a sense of urgency. These concerns are often the same (for example: Climate, Ukraine, Israel, Trump, etc), these topics are the cause of a lot of civil unrest and are driving the world today into chaos as we know it. Although these topics may be worth losing sleep over, there are other concerns that are just as problematic if not more so, that isn’t getting nearly enough of the attention that it deserves.

I recently had the priviledge to be in contact with Dr. Kelvin Fernandez a physician and healthcare educator in New Jersey. He brought up major concerns that our world could be facing in the near future in terms of our health and safety. Before we dive into Dr Fernandez, I want to make something clear: despite the fact that I vocalize my lack of credibility on this platform, I want to emphasize that Dr Fernandez is a very credible source and an expert in the field of medicine.

When asked about a major concern that isn’t receiving enough attention, Dr Fernandez stated:

“As a medical professional who has a front-row seat to healthcare dynamics, several less-publicized concerns are manifesting in my field that could have widespread implications.”

He continues,

“Firstly, there’s the problem of increasing antimicrobial resistance, still somewhat under the radar. Overuse of antibiotics, often inappropriately, is making previously treatable diseases harder to manage.

“Secondly, the brain drain or the migration of healthcare workers from low-resource to high-resource countries is disrupting health service delivery in the areas that need it the most.

This issue is not typically making the headlines despite its potential for escalating into a crisis.

The brain drain phenomenon significantly impacts the sustainability of health systems, particularly in low-resource settings. When we in high-resource countries draw the best talent from around the world, we inadvertently deplete the human resources crucial for healthcare delivery in their home countries. This has a ripple effect: as more qualified professionals leave, the strain on those remaining increases, leading perhaps to lower-quality care and greater burnout, which could further fuel emigration, creating a vicious cycle. This is a global ethical dilemma with serious implications for equity in healthcare delivery that requires international dialogue and cooperation.

“Lastly, the rising non-communicable disease (NCDs) burden is a silent epidemic.

Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and strokes now kill more people than infectious diseases, implying significant shifts in global health trends that need urgent attention.”

When I asked Dr Fernandez if he thinks this is due to the presence of chemicals becoming more prevelant in our food supply as well as humans living longer therefore increasing the chances of being diagnosed with these chromic diseases. He replied:

Concluding his message, Dr Fernandez stated:

“In disseminating this information, my hope is that it will reach a wide audience, encouraging critical thinking and leading to informed discussions. Each of these issues—antimicrobial resistance, the migration of healthcare professionals, and the rise of non-communicable diseases—deserves comprehensive coverage and robust action plans. It is crucial for all of us, especially those of us in the medical community, to elevate these discussions to ensure that they receive the attention they merit.”

If you are interested in reading more about Dr. Kelvin Fernandez, click here.