Public Health is an emerging field that has goals to improve the the access of \u00a0healthcare to all individuals. Some believe that equal health care is not attainable for all. Some believe that there should be a bare minimum for all people and they are entitled to this right. However, is it really possible to create a bare minimum of health care for all? There are those that realize this concept, and strive to work against the negative effects of social determinants in our societies. Sreenivasan states that, \u201cSocial determinants of health, roughly speaking, are those social factor outside the traditional health care system that have an effect either positive or negative, on the health status of individuals in a given population\u201d. There is obviously a relationship between access and quality of health care to the wealth of an individual. However, it is important to note that health care is not the sole control social factor that significantly impacts one\u2019s health. The article makes very realistic points about how we should view the social gradient. If we were to achieve this idea of \u201cequal opportunity\u201d, every one would \u201cmore or less\u201d have the same access and quality health care.This article does not stress that there is a right to health care for all. However, there are organizations that strive for this goal, and have had great successes in reaching this goal. For example, PIH and BRAC have both made great strides toward better health care regardless of the amount of wealth a person accumulates. Sreenivasan more or less states that there is always going to be someone that doesn\u2019t have health care, and doesn\u2019t believe that everyone has a right to health care. However, Buchanan\u2019s article is a very good contrast to the points made in Sreenivasans article.<\/p>\n
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Buchanan\u2019s article seems to hold a perspective that may be better applied to the outlook of how health should be viewed. Buchanan states, \u201cThe main difficulty is that assuring any significant level of health for all is simply not within the domain of social control.\u201d The article discusses how the idea of equal opportunity, but is it truly realistic. Also, it is noted that there is a strong difference between a decent minimum of healthcare and access to health care. Which one should be implemented? There may or may not be a better choice depending on finances and other factors, but which one seems to be more realistic in our world today? Can we provide a decent minimum for all? An important point to note is that people require different levels of health care. People have different cases and diseases that all require differing levels of money to treat. There will always be someone that doesn\u2019t quite receive the adequate amount of healthcare that they should receive, and the reality of it is harsh. However, as a society we can try our best to treat the ones that are affected negatively by these social determinants. There may be wiggle room for the bar to be set as to where to begin treating everyone, but how do we establish a set bar? Each case can have a different level of severity and urgency, so can we really make a bare minimum in the field of public health.<\/p>\n
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References<\/p>\n
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Sreenivasan, Gopal. \u201cHealth Care and Equality of Opportunity\u201d. The Hastings Center Report (2007). p. 21-31.<\/p>\n
A. Buchanan, “The Right to a Decent Minimum of Health Care”. Philosophy and Public Affairs (1984). p.55-78<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Public Health is an emerging field that has goals to improve the the access of \u00a0healthcare to all individuals. Some believe that equal health care is not attainable for all. Some believe that there should be a bare minimum for all people and they are entitled to this right. However, is it really possible to … Continue reading Is there a bare minimum?<\/span>