Health Stewardship in Polar Regions: A Gateway to Establish Emergency Medicine in Extreme Environment

• Main Authors: Hossein Akbarialiabad, Rowena Christiansen, Mohsen Farjoud Kouhanjani, Milad Ahmadi Marzaleh, Mohammad Hossein Taghrir
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2023
• Subjects: antarctic; polar; emergency; extreme; governance; Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid; RC86-88.9; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.30476/beat.2023.99614.1454; https://doaj.org/article/fbdb430e4ee14ba4945258c588acfdbd

In a rapidly changing environment, healthcare systems in polar regions face increasing pressures imposed by climate change, burgeoning tourism, and potential ramifications for future space exploration. The urgency to reevaluate health stewardship and governance in these areas is driven by unique challenges, including geographical barriers and scarce resources. Further accentuated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the anticipated boom in the polar tourism industry, the need for robust emergency, trauma, and surgical care is highlighted. The objective of this paper is to address these challenges and advocate for a unified health governance approach. Adopting measures like artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and advanced technologies is suggested to promote the effectiveness of remote care, considering the distinct limitations of these regions. Moreover, research focused on the human health impact of these extreme conditions is paramount for formulating adequate responses, thereby improving the overall readiness and resilience of the healthcare systems in these regions.