Whenever a global health threat arises, and the possibility of an epidemic or even pandemic development emerges, the government must produce an immediate response to safeguard the lives of citizens and ensure that their health remains unaffected. However, banning specific activities without due explanation often turns out to be counterproductive, as the examples of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the measles outbreak in 2019, and the ban on smoking and fast food in 2021 have shown (Gold, 2020; Goodman, 2019; Paybarah, 2019). The reasons for the observed initiatives to fail seem to concern the specifics of human behavior. Namely, in addition to the incentive of enjoyment that people receive from engaging in a specific activity, they will also have the thrill of participating in something that is forbidden, hence the increased motivation and the government’s eventual failure (McNeil, 2019). As a result, the specified bans cannot be considered effective strategies to promote public health.
In addition, the outlined initiatives create a conflict between the freedom of choice and the government’s responsibility for public health outcomes. Specifically, the described policies restrict individuals’ freedoms as the means of reaching the goal of improving public health outcomes. While the latter is an important responsibility of the government and a crucial objective, the understanding of the implications that the ban violation will entail is also vital. However, while reinforcing the ban, the government offers very little to help citizens to make an informed decision to understand and accept the said regulation.
Considering a recent example, one should take a look at the policy issued by the Healthy People 2030. The policy seeks to address a plethora of health issues, some of which are urgent. However, the organization does so by promoting patient education and viewing it as one of the top priorities, hence the rise in people’s willingness to adhere to Healthy People 2030 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020) guidelines. Thus, instead of coercion, education should be prioritized when managing a health crisis.
References
Gold, M. (2020). Indoor dining will shut down in New York City again. The New York Times. Web.
Goodman, J. D., (2019). De Blasio Unveils Health Care Plan for Undocumented and Low-Income New Yorkers. The New York Times. Web.
McNeil, D G. (2019). Measles Outbreak Infects 695, Highest Number Since 2000. The New York Times. Web.
Paybarah, A., (2019). Measles Outbreak: The Public Health Emergency and the Crackdown in Brooklyn. The New York Times. Web.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Just released: Healthy People 2030’s leading health indicators and ov erall health and well-being measures. Web.