The Concept of Health

The concept of health is complicated. For example, some definitions of health include the absence of disease while others exclude a full segment of the population. In other words, a person may be healthy if they do not have any diseases but still manage them well. For this reason, defining health as a lack of disease is not enough. It must also include the social, mental, and physical dimensions of a person’s life. Consequently, it is difficult to measure or define how healthy someone is, particularly in regards to aging.

One of the most important elements of health is its definition. In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” This definition is no longer valid, according to Huber et al. Rather, health is a set of behaviors and conditions that can help a person survive in any given environment. For this reason, the role of a physician is to help a person adapt to their environment.

The World Health Organization defines health as the highest possible level of well-being for every human. Moreover, it is a right for every human being, regardless of race, religion, political beliefs, or social conditions. Hence, it is essential for the government to promote and maintain health in its citizens. Various nation-states have adopted the definition of health as a fundamental right and are legally required to provide timely and affordable health care to their citizens.