What is health?

Last night I gave a speech to colleagues about global health issues. Some were surprised as I tried to answer the question above.

Patients as well as the media often think that you have a better chance to stay healthy, if you have easy access to healthcare. True, but not the whole truth I dare say.

Nomenclature is a bit funny here. We talk about healthcare and at the same time mean two rather different things. Firstly the system is there to keep healthy people healthy. Secondly it is supposed to cure the sick or otherwise give them aid. From a doctor's point of view the latter is closer to our education. Quite frankly I'd give more responsibility of the previous for personal trainers, dietitians, nurses etc. If you're healthy, they can help you to stay that way a lot better than a doctor.

What are the factors that affect to the health of an individual? Apart from age, genes and sex the environment plays an important role. Environment with it's physical and social elements have major impact on our health. Questions like sanitation, pollution, water supply and climate change area easily big globally. In Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator winter time is hard on one's lungs. Smoke takes over and you can hardly see your neighbour's house. Nearly everyone I met there complained about pulmonary symptoms.

In social sense economics, gender, social status and education are all major players on the health of individuals just as nations. Take for instance Non-Communicable diseases, which are a major health challenge globally acknowledged also by World Health Organization. These often result after series of choices done in previous years. Smoking, alcohol consumption, seat belts, sports etc. Fast food is cheap. Healthier food is usually expensive and takes time to cook. Or obesity, why do you think it is rather common in women coming from Arabic countries.

Adding to the list is of course access to healthcare services. But the above listing tells the secret why in so many countries grass root health work has done wonders. Barangai workers in the Philippines or community health workers in Nepal are doing the same work for the best of their country. I think in the West we are waisting our resources when trying to provide good health to our people. We've forgot what it takes to have good health.