The Future in Healthcare
Over the past century, improved hygiene and better access to medicine and health services, have contributed to tremendous progress in global health and immense improvements in survival rates. However, the medicalised model, that focuses in treating disease inside the hospital settings, is recognised as not effective enough in preventing disease.
Nowadays, the challenge is to move away from sickness to health and to effectively manage the threat of the so-called lifestyle related conditions, such as heart diseases, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, different types of cancer, diabetes, obesity and stress.
The realisation that better health results will be achieved not by treating disease but through preventing it, has swung the pendulum from hospital-based care back to the community. Investing in communities is considered as one of the most effective ways to improve health in the long term and it consists a sustainable model that means better environmental conditions (air quality, green cities) and health literacy to shape healthy individual’ behaviour (healthy eating habits, exercise, smoking cessation, weigh management).
Developing healthy communities also involves access to quality education, safe and healthy homes, adequate employment, transportation, and quality health care. Shifting away from hospital and building health communities means empowering individuals to invest in their own health and well-being by reaching their full physical and mental potential.