The Socio-Economic Realities of Health in Ireland | December 2010
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Preamble to Constitution of WHO Public health is what we, as a society do collectively to ensure the conditions in which people can be healthy. US National Institute of Medicine Authors Justin Frewen has worked for the UN since 1997 in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the US. He is a member of the Board of ComhlĂĄmh and is completing a PhD in Political Science at NUI Galway. Dr Anna Datta is a Speciality Doctor in Psychiatry at the East London NHS Foundation Trust and is completing an International Masters in Mental Health Policy and Services (World Health Organization/New University of Lisbon). This Thinkpiece builds on the arguments made in a recent Thinkpiece co-authored by Justin Frewen and Dr. Anna Datta - The Socio-Economic Realities of Mental Health in Ireland - published by TASC earlier this year.
Introduction The issue of the economic cost of health has come ever more to the fore. One of the principle concerns raised has been the failure to effectively target health concerns can lead to significant economic costs in the longer term. These costs include not only direct expenditure on health treatment and care but also lost economic productivity and output as a result of ill health. It is imperative therefore that states ensure they develop and implement the required policies, programmes and actions to optimise the overall health prospects of their populations. However, maximising the overall level of health and well-being of the general population requires an holistic approach; one which moves beyond the mindset that the only way to improve health standards is true investing in public health service accessibility and delivery. Although the public health services are, of course, the critical component in any health system, there is an urgent need to involve those socio-economic sectors, which directly impact on health. Of particular importance is the identification of the negative social-determinants which lead to health inequalities and inequities, that result in certain socio-economic groups having far higher incidences of ill health, stress and other medical problems. This paper will briefly outline the economic burden of bad health to society. This will be followed by an examination of the role of social determinants in influencing health prospects, paying particular attention to the issue of health inequities. Emphasis will be placed on highlighting the role negative social determinants play in producing health inequities between different social groups, the urgent need to address them and how best this might be done. This paper´s major argument is that in order to improve on the current levels of health in Ireland and work towards a maximum positive health and well-being status for all our citizens, it will be Thinkpiece