The NHS is coping with both massive financial pressures, and a huge reorganisation.
He highlighted the small matter of sharply rising unemployment, deflationary pressures and a property bust.
Equally, demographic pressures and a largely unreformed social care system are leaving too many older people with inadequate support.
But despite Western efforts, few sexual assault cases ever come to trial in Afghanistan because of family pressures and a well-founded fear of reprisal.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday presented a snapshot of an economy that is gradually slowing, weighed down by creeping inflation pressures and a more hesitant consumer.
Meanwhile, nominal GDP continues to rise on the back of firm domestic price pressures and a better terms of trade," she added.
Volkswagen, Europe's largest carmaker, expects losses in the United States at least through 2006 because of pricing pressures and a weak dollar.
"Young people are increasingly realising that there's a tough economic climate, climate change and other environmental pressures and a constantly lengthening retirement age.
In the face of escalating poverty, growing environmental and social pressures, and a widening income gap, we see the need for greater effectiveness in what we do.
But the lending spree has contributed to inflationary pressures and a soaring property market that the central government is trying to cool down.
Ireland last year was one of the few countries to witness a decline in dollar millionaires, by 4% to 20,000, reflecting a slide in the Dublin stock market, inflationary pressures and a downturn in the property market.
