What is Health?

In today’s 21st century, we have seen advancements in healthcare and continue to see global innovations and identity methods to facilitate health. However, the definition of “health” has not undergone much transformation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (2022, para. 2). There have been many discussions by researchers, philosophers, and health SMEs regarding the need to change WHO’s definition of health. As I have researched this subject, I think it is important to highlight that the definition of health can be subject to different interpretations depending on the community.

In June 2016, several medical anthropologists submitted a letter to WHO and identified several concepts that should be integrated into the definition of health. The article stated that key factors such as human equilibrium in nature, accepted spirituality, and adaptation should be considered in the definition of health (Charlier et al., 2016). Communities differ throughout the globe, and considering these three concepts will allow more appropriate subjectivism to the definition of health based on the community it is being applied to. For example, in African communities, spirituality plays a vital role in well-being. African concepts of bad luck are associated with rituals and beliefs of poverty resulting from disrespect to the elderly. This example shows that spiritual sickness has an equal and possibly more influential part in health than physical sickness in African communities. These beliefs are examples of spiritual concepts that are ingrained in African communities and require the remedy to be spiritual as well (Charlier et al., 2016). Reflecting on this concept and applying it to the Canadian health context, spirituality can be a determinant of health in Indigenous communities that place a significant importance on spiritual rituals and ceremonies to improve well-being.

The concept of disease management is missing in WHO’s definition of health but plays a vital role in how the global medical society facilitates better well-being for their respective communities. Machteld Huber and colleagues published an analysis on defining health and explained that WHO’s definition has limitations that do not consider the ability to self-manage social, physical, and emotional challenges. From the perspective of physical challenges, the nature of diseases has changed since WHO published its definition of health in 1948. In today’s society, aging with chronic diseases and disabilities is common and a leading cause for medical interventions. The WHO’s definition of health does not apply to today’s society because it declares people with chronic diseases and disabilities as ill (Huber et al., 2011). Whereas, modern resources across the globe provide support for chronic disease populations to sustain a healthy lifestyle. I find this point relevant as it pertains to my professional role in supporting populations with Chronic Kidney Disease. Reflecting on this point, the support available to self-manage chronic diseases is critical in defining health since chronic diseases are prevalent in all communities globally.

As a healthcare professionals, we are taught to provide a holistic approach to providing care to our patients. This holistic approach encompasses many facets, beginning with physical needs and moving to social and spiritual needs. Meeting all these needs of a patient leads to a sustainable health. We consider how each patient's needs are subjective to them when we provide healthcare, and WHO’s definition of health should also consider the subjective meaning of health in communities rather than applying a “one fits all” approach.

References

Charlier, P., Coppens, Y., Malaurie, J., Brun, L., Kepanga, M., Hoang-Opermann, V., ... & Hervé, C. (2017). A new definition of health? An open letter of autochthonous peoples and medical anthropologists to the WHO. European journal of internal medicine, 37, 33-37.

Huber, M., Knottnerus, J. A., Green, L., Van Der Horst, H., Jadad, A. R., Kromhout, D., ... & Smid, H. (2011). How should we define health?. Bmj, 343.

World Health Organization. (2022). Health and Well-Being. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/major-themes/health-and-well-being