FAQ · Living & People 6

A 25 August 2023 notice from the Pan American Health Organization says Venezuela's new ban on the use and marketing of electronic cigarettes is part of a wider move in the Americas to follow the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. At that date, 21 countries in the Americas regulated electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes and vapes in some way, eight of them banned sale outright, 13 had adopted at least some regulatory measure, and 14 had no regulation. The eight with a full sales ban were Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Venezuela's 1 August resolution goes beyond an earlier June ban on sales to minors and prohibits manufacture, storage, distribution, import, export, use, advertising and sponsorship of both nicotine and non-nicotine systems, together with their consumables, accessories and heated tobacco products. The notice describes e-cigarettes as devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol, and it says those liquids contain nicotine plus additives, flavorings and chemicals, some of them toxic to the user and to people nearby. PAHO recommends that governments ban the marketing, import, distribution and sale of these products, restrict their use in public places, ban advertising and tax them in ways similar to tobacco, noting that tobacco kills one million people a year in the region and that the share of smokers fell from 28 percent in 2000 to sixteen point three percent in 2020 after the convention took effect in 2005.

Life expectancy at birth is significantly lower for First Nations babies than for babies in the Canadian population as a whole. As of 2021, estimates show First Nations life expectancy is 12.1 years shorter for males and 11 years shorter for females. For females, the life expectancy was 76 years compared to 82 years in the general population. In males, the life expectancy for First Nations individuals was 69 years as opposed to 77 in the general population. These lower rates are attributed to various complex reasons, including social determinants of health.

According to data from UNICEF, the infant mortality rate in Barbados was 11.057 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. This statistic provides insight into the health outcomes for newborns in the country. The provided information focuses on these specific figures for the year 2021. This rate is part of the broader demographic profile of the Barbadian population.

The total fertility rate in French Guiana has remained high. Today, it is considerably higher than that of metropolitan France. It is also higher than most of the other French overseas departments. This high rate is largely responsible for the rapid population growth of French Guiana.

The United States utilizes several public programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP for certain children and families. Other benefits are provided through the Indian Health Service, the Veterans Health Administration, and TRICARE for military members. The healthcare system is noted for its complexity, which has led to significant financial problems for the public. For example, a study found that 62 percent of people declaring bankruptcy in 2007 had unpaid medical expenses of $1000 or more. To address these issues, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010.

The Australian public health system is known as Medicare, which offers free universal access to hospital treatment and subsidized out-of-hospital medical care. This system is funded through a 2% tax levy on all taxpayers, an additional 1% levy for high income earners, and general revenue. In contrast, the private health system is funded by various private health insurance organizations. These funds can be categorized as for profit, mutual, or non-profit entities. Most health funds are open to membership, though some are restricted to specific groups. The private health system operates on a community rating basis so that premiums do not vary solely based on medical history or age.