Investment In Prevention, Not An Expense -Richa Khurana & Dr. Farzana Wani December 22, 2021 Did you know that 80% of chronic diseases are preventable? All you need to do is take some life-altering and pro-life choices that have the highest influence on your health and vitality. Years of studies and experience have reaffirmed that the prime contributors that lead to chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke are unhealthy diet choices, lack of physical activity, and tobacco & alcohol consumption. The distress caused by the medical conditions leads to a feeling of deprivation when it comes to health and productive potential. The incidence of chronic medical conditions not only exhausts household income and savings but also wastes resources from other investment activities. Health is in many ways equivalent to economic growth; diseases reduce life expectancy and hamper economic productivity, thereby negatively affecting the quality of the country‟s workforce. This, in turn, may result in a reduction in national income, initiating a spiral of ill health and poverty. The most agonising aspect of poor healthcare and disease is the continuation of its impact over generations. The next generation is more susceptible to developing diseases due to substandard nutrition or lack of personal hygiene and sanitation. To take care of the sick, older children often have to leave school, negatively impacting their long-term economic prospects. Contrary to this scenario, good health positively affects human capital, productivity, and economic growth. As prevention refers to preventing or halting the natural course of a disease that hampers the quality of life, preventive health care is a crucial determinant of health. People proactively involved in maintaining their health and fitness can more likely have positive experiences with their healthcare providers and have their healthcare needs, and demands met. In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) described health as “a state of absolute physical, mental, and social well-being and not just the absence of disease or infirmity”. It is a positive concept that emphasises social and personal capabilities, as well as physical capacities. Over the period of time, this statement was reviewed to incorporate the inclination to live a “socially and economically prosperous life”.
The power to stay away from all the diseases that have adverse effects is completely under the control of an individual. Following a healthy diet and making lifestyle changes like getting adequate exercise and refraining from tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption help ensure a wholesome and longer life span. Keeping in mind the proverb - „Prevention is better than cure, people have started to make sustainable decisions about preventive health. The middle class is now seeking annual health check-ups, which were previously considered the luxury of corporate managers. Certain hospitals regularly handle walk-in patients and deliver personalised packages for all age groups. There are also occasions when individuals donate test packages to their parents. Hundreds of preventive health check-ups are performed daily by Apollo Hospitals, which has introduced the idea of preventive healthcare packages in India. A healthy society mirrors the welfare and happiness of a nation, and the human capital quality contributes considerably to economic growth, which is the reason why everyone must take decisions aimed at the holistic prevention of health. Personal care prevents health problems and saves money in the long run by decreasing the number of hospital visits and medications needed. Self-care also decreases the rising cost of healthcare-associated with diseases. Good health habits can save money by reducing health care costs. People who take care of their health have the following benefits: ● Enhanced quality of life ● Reduction of absenteeism ● Increased satisfaction with the health ● Saved Time