2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

0.955 respectively (Human Development Reports, 2019). The GDP per capita, a prominent

predictor of financial wellbeing, between Switzerland and Belgium significantly exceed the

poverty line at 86,601.56USD (2020) and 44,594.38USD (2020) respectively (The World

Bank, n.d.).

Similarly, the HDI of the UK is ranked top 15 in the world (13 th , just above Belgium), at

0.932 (Human Development Reports, 2020). Their GDP per capita is 40,284.64USD (2020)

(The World Bank, n.d.), similar to Belgium and suggests financial wellbeing.

Aim

The aim of this investigation is to assess the impact of different health care systems on the

testing of breast cancer diagnosis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This topic is best

examined through an interdisciplinary approach as it allows skills from Biology to interpret

trends and analyse the significance in graphs as well as evaluate the short-term and long-term

impacts of the decision to cease/continue breast cancer screenings on the economy.

Hypothesis

There will be an overall decrease in the number of mammograms conducted over the three

countries (England, Belgium, Switzerland). However, the extent of the impact of SARS

CoV-2 on breast cancer diagnosis rates is more pronounced in the UK than Belgium and

Switzerland due to the centralisation of the NHS health care system. Economies with a more

decentralised health care system and hospitals governed by their own cantons (such as

Belgium and Switzerland), will have a less pronounced effect on their mammogram

screening services and as such, detriments to the rate of diagnosis and prognosis of breast

cancer will also be minimised. Ultimately, the Bismarck model will be better in situations of

worldwide pandemics in terms of continuing health services that better address long-term

public health regarding diseases such as breast cancer.

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