ANALYSIS OF HEALTHCARE MODELS part 1

4457 WORDS

Many models of health exist thorough out the world. When a government or organisations is determining the most appropriate model to implement factors such as cost, ability to achieve desired outcomes and feasibility must be considered. The models of healthcare that play the largest role in the health of Australians are the biomedical and social models of health.

The biomedical model of health

The biomedical model of health focusses on optimum physical health for individuals. This model focusses on diagnosis and treatment of health conditions, with the goal of returning people to their pre-condition healthy state. This model relies heavily on hospitals, pharmaceuticals and medical technology to achieve this goal and is an expensive model. The biomedical model is widely accepted and forms the basis of health care throughout the western world.

Advantages and disadvantages of the biomedical model of health

Advantages

Increases populations life expectancy as treatments advance

Effective at treating common problems and returning people to a healthy state

Can lead to advances in medical technology

Can improve the quality of life for people with chronic conditions via medications etc.

Disadvantages

Use of advanced medical technology and the health system to diagnose and treat conditions is costly for governments

Does not address factors that lead to the development of particular health conditions

Not all health conditions can be cured, however they can often be managed via behaviour modification which this model does not consider

Paying for medications and treatment via the biomedical approach can be expensive for individuals

The social model of health

The social model of health focusses on influences that can lead to poor health. It aims to improve health and wellbeing by directing efforts towards addressing social, economic and environmental determinants of health. Instead of an individual approach, this model focusses more broadly on communities and populations in an attempt to promote optimal health.

There are five key principles to the social model of health:

Addresses the broader determinants of health

Factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, culture, physical environment, education and ethnicity can influence the health of people. The social model of health looks beyond the biological determinants and focuses on how health and wellbeing can be influenced by such broader determinants.

Acts to reduce social inequities