Comparing health definitions: WHO 1946 framework and commodification perspectives

¶ … Health WHO 1946 as well as Health as a Commodity

Health is liberty from ache in the physical body, a condition of being healthy, freedom from fervor on an emotional plane, ensuing in a lively condition of tranquility and peace; and liberty from egotism in the psychological circle, as a result having a total union with the surroundings.

World Health Organization's (WHO) constitution defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (WHO, 1992). Although it is quite certain that no one can be perfectly healthy and cannot attain the entirety of health. Health should be treated like a commodity these days as it is a necessity. But the health department is neglected these days and thus it is transforming into a major concern. From a philosopher's point-of-view which centers on the community's norm suggests that disability, infection and infirmity should be absent.

A the state of optimum capacity of an individual for the effective performance of the roles and tasks for which (s)he has been socialized" Parsons (1972) p117, cited in Aggleton (1990) p9

Compare and contrast the meaning of Health WHO 1946 as well as Health as a Commodity

As new medications have come in the market, it implies that health can be bought or supplied (through health services; medical stores), given (through drugs and surgery) and lost (through any untoward incident). And thus it can be sold as a commodity. The grave fault though is that unfortunately it is not treated as a commodity. Requirements like food, clothing and shelter are generally given through private sector companies. And not only this consumers can get a lot of options and thus can easily get their required things in reasonable prices. And even now Health insurance in countries is provided mostly through private markets. it's a product that is bought, though in most cases of people get their health insurance through their work as compensation and therefore they cannot change the way it is presented to them. Even now there are people who do not have health insurance and therefore depend on the sympathy of strangers i.e. doctors who treat charity cases. And billions of people are underinsured. Many Medical Insurance Companies have suffered setbacks and therefore went in bankruptcy directly affecting the people insured by them. More is spent on medicines then on primary care. Health care has become more of a profitable sector than of a community service. Health has been a major concern for the bankruptcies of a billion people. David Seedhouses' work an important theorist helped to change the theoretical examination of health care from an unimportant activity to a must for knowledgeable thinking and a responsible practice. His book analyses health in depth and is easy for whoever is involved in giving or getting ethical health care. The state of complete psychological, physical and social comfort is defined as health by World Health Organization. It does not purely signify nonexistence of disease and frailty. This theory strives to take in all attributes of the person which are given equal weighting. It also has a bonus benefit of demonstrating the recognition, through the use of term well-being that there is more health than absence of sickness. This, then, is a theory with a very wide extent, which seeks to move away from the biotechnical perspective, in direction of a more all-inclusive evaluation of health. Health is a right for all the people and it's an ideal state while nowadays it is been sold as a commodity by private insurance companies to increase their profits. This therefore is resulting in the loss of the people's lives and health.

At all stages in life, health is determined by compound interactions between communal and monetary factors, the corporal environment and individual behavior. And these factors which affect health are known as the determinants of health. Many other factors are there which combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities. Whether people are well or not, is determined by their conditions and surroundings. Factors such as the living standards, the state of environment, genetics, earnings and education level, and relationships with friends and family all have significant impacts on health. And all these factors exist together and help in determining the overall status of health. Customs and culture can also affect the health of a person.Some people or groups may visage additional health risks owing to a socio-economic atmosphere, which is principally dogged by leading cultural morals that add to the continuation of conditions such as marginalization, stigmatization, loss or devaluation of language and culture and lack of access to ethnically appropriate health care and services. Cultural barriers can prove fatal to the health of one person. There is often a lack of perceptions of cultural and religious needs among the health professionals and thus they should be trained properly so they can overcome this cultural difference. However nowadays also there are people who believe in traditional healing systems and prefer them over health professionals. Customary midwives, health barbers, herbalists, magic practitioners, and even priests from different religions are the most favored providers of healthcare to people who believe in customary traditions. Thus customary traditions can be a big obstacle for the health professionals.