The balance between health and wealth has become a significant issue in the community, particularly in a social setting of health and wealth. As we sail through different challenges in contemporary life, it is evident that our reliance on good health and financial stability significantly plays a pivotal role in influencing the quality of life one needs (Anvari-Clark & Rose, 2023). As a healthcare giver, I have encountered several health and wealth gap cases, particularly on patients with significant financial challenges in accessing essential medical services. The health wealth gap is an inescapable issue that establishes real-life situations affecting people’s access to essential healthcare services and physical health. My perception of health and wealth issues is that everyone should have equal access to healthcare services regardless of financial status (Bhugra, 2018). Thus, my perception is mainly on the professional encounter and personal ethics that recognize equity and social fairness. Thus, this paper intends to discuss social health and wealth and how they relate to each other in the critical aspects of human life.
In my workplace, when I came across a patient named Mark, I understood that the patient was facing financial constraints. Hence, despite her severe condition, Mark was denied access to healthcare services due to a lack of finances to facilitate his treatment. I realized that Mark had no insurance coverage due to his financial constraints; therefore, he could not afford one, which would have taken care of her condition. Hence, the lack of insurance and lack of finances prompted delayed medical interventions, therefore deteriorating his condition (Anvari-Clark & Rose, 2023). Mark’s incident made me realize the difference between health and wealth; sometimes, lack of financial resources can lead to severe fatalities, especially for individuals with low income in society. Since there is no timely intervention from doctors and nurses, receiving appropriate healthcare services is problematic (Bhugra, 2018). Hence, situations like this call for policy changes to ensure that lack of finance would help determine the quality of an individual’s healthcare.
I am obligated to contribute with a different perspective on the health-wealth gap in the principles of equity and social justice. Health is an important factor in any human being; therefore, it qualifies as an essential human right that should not be denied to anyone, regardless of their financial status (Sapolsky, 2018). Since the physical health of one person in a community displays the health of the whole community. Hence, if that person is denied access to medical services and, for instance, transmits the disease to another person, it will turn out to be disastrous, and as a result, a pandemic will be more problematic to control. Thus, fair distribution of medical services is critical in ensuring general public health.
The impact of the social economic aspect on an individual’s physical and psychological well-being is very significant in the course reading, according to the study conducted by Ratcliffe and McKernan (2012). Mckernan argues that the social background from which the child is brought up can develop a weak foundation that will have a detrimental effect on the child’s future academics, behavior, and physical well-being. Furthermore, the social factors of health include education, employment, and housing, which are closely associated with financial status. People with higher incomes generally have better educational backgrounds and better jobs that, in one way or another, have a positive impact on their physical health (Ratcliffe & McKernan, 2012). Lifestyle aspects also play a pivotal role since wealthy individuals can afford recreational activities, gym memberships, and healthy foods. At the same time, those with lower incomes will generally face difficulties sustaining a healthy lifestyle due to limited financial resources as they cannot afford most of the important things to nurture their health condition. Therefore, it is of great essence to address the health wealth issue so as not to confine it to only wealthy people who are already staying fit with the assistance of their finances.
Accessing healthcare services is essential, but it remains a significant issue even in countries with advanced healthcare facilities and systems. The issue of health and wealth cuts across the globe remains a significant issue since even where there are advanced systems, medical expenses for individuals with low income remain a challenge that usually leads to delayed or no medical services at all, leading to casualties at the expense of money (Chokshi, 2018). Hence, addressing the issue of the health wealth gap will require a wide range of strategic interventions intended to minimize the rate of economic disparities, enhance healthcare accessibility, and provide social services by resolving aspects of affordable education, equal job opportunities, affordable housing, and financial support.
Lack of capital can lead one to underlying stressors that can cause mental problems. The continuous worry of where to find resources for food, clothes, and other essential basic needs can have an adverse effect through the development of stress and, therefore, lead to mental health issues. This worsens the situation since mental health services have limited access to people with low or no income (Chokshi, 2018). Furthermore, low-income people live in congested areas that are often polluted, lack basic amenities such as sound drainage systems and housing, and lack green spaces, rendering them more vulnerable to various physical health conditions due to exposure to an environment that is not conducive to human settlement.
It is essential to understand that the health wealth issue is not only limited to specific regions but also a worldwide issue that is being established in different ways in different communities. Therefore, addressing this issue requires a general approach considering global and local aspects (Bhugra, 2018). If not resolved, these issues can become a menace and bring about lasting effects that will trigger poverty, enhance problems for future generations, and confine economic mobility among the people.
In conclusion, the health-wealth gap remains a reality deeply rooted in our societies with a significant influence on the lives of different kinds of people depending on their financial status. From my real-life experiences in the healthcare provider sector, I have witnessed how economic inequalities influence an individual’s health outcomes. My perception of the health wealth gap issue is based on the engagement of different stakeholders that are involved in offering healthcare services to ensure equity and fairness that is impacted by the personal and professional ethics and moral standards in addressing health, which is fundamental in the life of a human being with dignity and decorum. By appreciating the existence of the health wealth gap, I am in support of the changes in policy and strategies that will ensure this issue is addressed once and for all and create a society where health is not only for the rich but also for all people irrespective of the person’s financial situation.
References
Anvari-Clark, J., & Rose, T. (2023). Financial Behavioral Health and Investment Risk Willingness: Implications for the Racial Wealth Gap. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(10), 5835. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/10/5835
Bhugra, D. (2018). Health Gap, Wealth Gap—What is the Question? https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19452829.2018.1522041
Chokshi, D. A. (2018). Income, poverty, and health inequality. Jama, 319(13), 1312-1313. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2677433
Ratcliffe, C E. & McKernan, S (2012). Child poverty and its lasting consequence. Urban Institute Low-Income Working Families Working Paper No. 21, Available at https://ssrn.com/abstract=2205388
Sapolsky, R.M. (2018). The health-wealth gap. Scientific American, 319(5), pp. 62-67. http://ezproxy.umgc.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=132271091&site=eds-live&scope=site
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