Researchers and scientists have been preoccupied with developing medication to prolong people’s life and/or improve health. However, these measures may have long-term effects though people need immediate actions now. It is possible to improve people’s quality of life without huge investment into development of new drugs. It is crucial to focus on such urgent problems as social inequality and environmental issues in the contemporary society. These are two major determinants of population health.
People became aware of environmental issues decades ago, but they are still reluctant to see that immediate connection between environment and public health. According to Gehlert et al. (2008), environmental issues negative affect social environment, which leads to deterioration of population health. Admittedly, poor conditions (whole communities have to live in) have destructive effects on people’s health. Living near plants and factories increases the rate of such diseases as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and so on. Natural disasters as well as negative effects of human activity also leads to appearance of areas inappropriate for living and people have to move to other place, which contributes to development of social inequality in communities (Closing the gap, 2008). Hence, it is important to make sure that environmental issues get the necessary attention and people are able to prevent, at least, anthropogenic disasters. It is crucial to invest into development of appropriate environment for people.
Another factor contributing to deterioration of population health is social inequality. As has been mentioned above, lots of researchers have focused on development of improving individual health, but this is affordable for a limited group of people. Notably, even countries with healthy economy (like the USA and the UK) are characterized by social inequality which is increasing each year (Wilkinson & Pickett, 2010). Only limited number of people can afford proper healthcare services. The rest of the population is deprived of their right to live healthy lives as they cannot afford healthy lifestyles (proper diet, exercise and so on). Constant financial constraints put people under constant pressure and this negatively affects population health. Poor population health is especially striking in the USA as the country spends unprecedented funds on its healthcare system (Bezruchka, 2010). Minority groups still get inadequate healthcare services in the country where the right to be healthy is seen as one of the most important values. Raphael and Bryant (2006) note that the state should focus on population health and come up with strategies to ensure proper healthcare services for all groups within the society. This may seem as a difficult task that needs a lot of funds. However, these funds can be relocated from multimillion pharmaceutical industry which works on improvement of individual health.
To sum up, it is necessary to note that two factors contributing to deterioration of public health are social inequality and environmental issues. These problems need immediate actions; otherwise the entire humanity can decline. Individual health can be a matter of research, but the contemporary societies require rapid changes aimed at diminishing social inequality as well as environmental issues. The state should focus on improving population health by introducing numerous incentives including promotion of healthy lifestyles and financial aid. The state should finally see that healthy citizens will be able to work hard to make the country develop and prosper. At present, it seems governments are more preoccupied with development of certain high-quality drugs which could help limited group of people, which is inappropriate in the twenty-first century.
Reference List
Bezruchka, S. (2010). Health equity in the USA. Social Alternatives, 29(2), 50-56.
Closing the gap in a generation. (2008). Web.
Gehlert, S., Sohmer, D., Sacks, T., Mininger, C., McClintock, M., & Olopade, O. (2008). Targeting health disparities: A model linking upstream determinants to downstream interventions. Health Affairs, 27(2), 339-349.
Raphael, D., & Bryant, T. (2006). The state’s role in promoting population health: Public health concerns in Canada, USA, UK, and Sweden. Health Policy, 78(1), 39-55.
Wilkinson, R., & Pickett, K. E. (2010). The spirit level: Why greater equality makes societies stronger. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Press.