The Definition of Health and How it Affects Healthcare
The human body is a complex system, with numerous interlocking parts. The health of an individual depends on the interaction between these different systems, as well as many other environmental and social factors. The definition of health varies widely; it can be viewed as either the absence of disease or medically measured risk factors, or more broadly as a state of physical, mental and social well-being. A number of nations have enshrined the right to health in their constitutions, and the World Health Organization defines health as a ‘state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’.
For many people, the term ‘health’ has a broad meaning that encompasses not just the absence of disease, but also an individual’s feelings and behaviour. Various theories of health have been developed throughout history, and each has its own unique set of characteristics and implications for healthcare. A common view of health is that it can be measured objectively, and the medical profession is the sole judge as to whether an individual’s condition meets this standard. However, this approach is problematic for a number of reasons. As medical science advances, individuals who are deemed healthy today may be found to have a disease tomorrow. In addition, the definition of ‘health’ may be biased towards the medical establishment’s judgement of normality, rather than an individual’s own subjective experience.
An alternative view is that a person’s level of health is determined by their environment, lifestyle and genetic makeup. This is known as the biopsychosocial model of health, and it recognises that the physical, biological, psychological and social aspects of a person’s life all affect their state of well-being. This model is often used in research and clinical practice, and a variety of interventions have been designed to improve the health of individuals, communities and populations.
In modern society, health is a global issue that has become a major focus for governments and international organisations alike. A number of countries have enshrined the right of everyone to quality health care in their constitutions, and the World Health Organisation has established the right to healthcare as one of its primary objectives. Many other nations spend a large portion of their gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare, as it is recognised as essential to the functioning of any society.
Having good health is essential to leading a happy and fulfilling life, but there are many barriers that prevent people from accessing the healthcare they need. These barriers include poverty, illiteracy, inadequate education, lack of employment opportunities and cultural and language differences. Some of these barriers can be addressed by introducing new technology and improving access to healthcare, but others are more intractable.
Despite the fact that many healthcare services are now online, there is still a significant gap in information about the health of Australians. This is due to government legislation and policies that have skewed, cancelled or outlawed free market principles from naturally operating within the healthcare ecosystem.
The human body is a complex system, with numerous interlocking parts. The health of an individual depends on the interaction between these different systems, as well as many other environmental and social factors. The definition of health varies widely; it can be viewed as either the absence of disease or medically measured risk factors, or more broadly as a state of physical, mental and social well-being. A number of nations have enshrined the right to health in their constitutions, and the World Health Organization defines health as a ‘state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. For many people, the term ‘health’ has a broad meaning that encompasses not just the absence of disease, but also an individual’s feelings and behaviour. Various theories of health have been developed throughout history, and each has its own unique set of characteristics and implications for healthcare. A common view of health is that it can be measured objectively, and the medical profession is the sole judge as to whether an individual’s condition meets this standard. However, this approach is problematic for a number of reasons. As medical science advances, individuals who are deemed healthy today may be found to have a disease tomorrow. In addition, the definition of ‘health’ may be biased towards the medical establishment’s judgement of normality, rather than an individual’s own subjective experience. An alternative view is that a person’s level of health is determined by their environment, lifestyle and genetic makeup. This is known as the biopsychosocial model of health, and it recognises that the physical, biological, psychological and social aspects of a person’s life all affect their state of well-being. This model is often used in research and clinical practice, and a variety of interventions have been designed to improve the health of individuals, communities and populations. In modern society, health is a global issue that has become a major focus for governments and international organisations alike. A number of countries have enshrined the right of everyone to quality health care in their constitutions, and the World Health Organisation has established the right to healthcare as one of its primary objectives. Many other nations spend a large portion of their gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare, as it is recognised as essential to the functioning of any society. Having good health is essential to leading a happy and fulfilling life, but there are many barriers that prevent people from accessing the healthcare they need. These barriers include poverty, illiteracy, inadequate education, lack of employment opportunities and cultural and language differences. Some of these barriers can be addressed by introducing new technology and improving access to healthcare, but others are more intractable. Despite the fact that many healthcare services are now online, there is still a significant gap in information about the health of Australians. This is due to government legislation and policies that have skewed, cancelled or outlawed free market principles from naturally operating within the healthcare ecosystem.