Determinants Of Health Essay
The causes of poor health are complex. A society understanding of the determinants of health has an important influence on the strategies it uses to maintain and improve the health of its population. Examining determinants of health from the perspective of social, economic and political circumstances is necessary to assist understanding the variations in the health of modern populations. Every time a government makes an economic or political decision, it also affects the lives of many people. The statement from the Globe and Mail is not accurate and examples from the book, “The Body of Economics: Why Austerity Kills” by David Stuckler and Sanjay Basu illustrate examples of how government policies influence the health of a population. The relationship between government policies and
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public health has a direct link in affecting the well-being of the population. The social determinates of health can be defined as the economic, social, environmental, cultural and political conditions that influence the health of population (Class notes). Population health is determined by governmental policies and when bad political and economic decisions are made it can be reflect on the population`s health. For instance, in the book, “The Body of Economics”, the authors provided two contrasting examples of how economic policies shape the health of a population. In the Iceland example, the population was facing a devastating economic crisis and instead of the government making economic decisions on behalf of the population, they decided to hear the public concerns and come up with a solution. Iceland suffered the worst banking crisis in history; all three main banks failed, and its total debt jumped to 800% of GDP. Under pressure from public protests, its president ‘put how to deal with the crisis’ to a vote. About 93% of the population voted against paying for the bankers’ recklessness with large cuts to their health and social-protection systems. Under Iceland's universal healthcare system, no one lost access to care. In fact more money went into the system. There was no rise in suicides or depressive disorders and the health of the population was going strong. Also by 2012 Iceland was presented with “gross national happiness” reported in the UN World Happiness Report. Iceland now is booming; unemployment fell back to below 5% and GDP growth is above 4%, which far exceeds any of other European countries that suffered major recessions. Alternatively to the Iceland situation the authors provided examples from the country Greece and their economic situation.
Greece has cut its health system by more than 40%, causing a health care crisis. And the decision to cut healthcare funding was not made by doctors and healthcare professionals, but by economists and financial managers. The plan was simply to get health spending down to 6% of GDP. The consequences have been dramatic. Cuts in HIV-prevention budgets have coincided with a 200% increase in the virus in Greece, driven by a sharp rise in drug use against the background of a youth unemployment rate now running at more than 50% and a spike in homelessness. Greece has gone from one extreme to the other. It used to have one of Europe's lowest suicide rates; it has now seen a more than 60% rise. The country's healthcare system itself has also completely failed to manage or cope with the threats it's facing. The authors also note that there have been heavy cuts to many hospital sectors. Places lack surgical gloves, the most basic equipment. These are just a few of many effects that Greece is facing because of economic cut backs, which is causing a population health
crisis. Both countries took two different approaches when it came to their economic crisis. The people of Iceland took a stimulus that provided Iceland with a strong safety net and investment in the overall health of the public. On the other hand Greece government took the approach of austerity which causes suicide rates to go up, unemployment, depression, illnesses and disease and an overall health problem for the society as a whole. The health of a population is directly linked to how government policies and neoliberal policies are structured. For a healthier body economics is to increase policies that help the people, create social cohesion and do not do any harm. To conclude it is vital for the public health of a society to be involved in the economic policies in society as it greatly reflects on the overall health and well-being of a population.
public health has a direct link in affecting the well-being of the population. The social determinates of health can be defined as the economic, social, environmental, cultural and political conditions that influence the health of population (Class notes). Population health is determined by governmental policies and when bad political and economic decisions are made it can be reflect on the population`s health. For instance, in the book, “The Body of Economics”, the authors provided two contrasting examples of how economic policies shape the health of a population. In the Iceland example, the population was facing a devastating economic crisis and instead of the government making economic decisions on behalf of the population, they decided to hear the public concerns and come up with a solution. Iceland suffered the worst banking crisis in history; all three main banks failed, and its total debt jumped to 800% of GDP. Under pressure from public protests, its president ‘put how to deal with the crisis’ to a vote. About 93% of the population voted against paying for the bankers’ recklessness with large cuts to their health and social-protection systems. Under Iceland's universal healthcare system, no one lost access to care. In fact more money went into the system. There was no rise in suicides or depressive disorders and the health of the population was going strong. Also by 2012 Iceland was presented with “gross national happiness” reported in the UN World Happiness Report. Iceland now is booming; unemployment fell back to below 5% and GDP growth is above 4%, which far exceeds any of other European countries that suffered major recessions. Alternatively to the Iceland situation the authors provided examples from the country Greece and their economic situation.
Greece has cut its health system by more than 40%, causing a health care crisis. And the decision to cut healthcare funding was not made by doctors and healthcare professionals, but by economists and financial managers. The plan was simply to get health spending down to 6% of GDP. The consequences have been dramatic. Cuts in HIV-prevention budgets have coincided with a 200% increase in the virus in Greece, driven by a sharp rise in drug use against the background of a youth unemployment rate now running at more than 50% and a spike in homelessness. Greece has gone from one extreme to the other. It used to have one of Europe's lowest suicide rates; it has now seen a more than 60% rise. The country's healthcare system itself has also completely failed to manage or cope with the threats it's facing. The authors also note that there have been heavy cuts to many hospital sectors. Places lack surgical gloves, the most basic equipment. These are just a few of many effects that Greece is facing because of economic cut backs, which is causing a population health
crisis. Both countries took two different approaches when it came to their economic crisis. The people of Iceland took a stimulus that provided Iceland with a strong safety net and investment in the overall health of the public. On the other hand Greece government took the approach of austerity which causes suicide rates to go up, unemployment, depression, illnesses and disease and an overall health problem for the society as a whole. The health of a population is directly linked to how government policies and neoliberal policies are structured. For a healthier body economics is to increase policies that help the people, create social cohesion and do not do any harm. To conclude it is vital for the public health of a society to be involved in the economic policies in society as it greatly reflects on the overall health and well-being of a population.