I am a physician and scholar in philosophy by amalgamating philosophical principles into modern medicine discovered and experienced omega results. The whole ‘philosophy of health’ is governed by four pillars according to my research. The first one is the Pillar of “Igniting Innate Energy”, and the second pillar in “Utilizing Pancha Bhutas” viz., Earth, Sky, Air, Fire, and Water sacredly. The third pillar is “forgetting the years of age” which enriches the enthusiasm and dynamism of individuals and the fourth one is “while respecting fate, driving continuous efforts for rejuvenation of health”.
Applied ethics in the treatment of ailments and philosophical wandering in considering family medicine which has fully grown as an academic and scientific discipline with its own core concepts, knowledge, skills, and research domains, would revolutionize the individual health needs and public health sector. The 21st century is a golden era for family medicine research because the time is ripened for the discipline to move ahead for health reforms as the healthcare environment is most suitable, and stakeholders such as WHO, UNAIDS and World Bank are supportive. Family medicine should plan for the most advanced research and capacity building. “Family medicine is a core specialty to achieve millennium development goals (MDGS) in the 21st century. “Quality health for all” should be a paramount priority of Governments. For centuries family doctor system has been a part of human life, in the form of a tribal physician, village physician or Purohit Physician. When modern MBBS doctors or LMP doctors came into existence, families chose some of them as “Kutumba Vaidhyulu”. For holistic health as per the definition of WHO (World Health Organization), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Further spiritual health and positive health have also been added by the United Nations Organization (UNO) in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, and political belief, economic or social condition. The health of all people is essential to the accomplishment of peace and security and is dependent on the fullest cooperation of individuals and States. The achievement of any State in the promotion and protection of health is of value to all.
Owing to the regular touch with family members from one or two generations family physicians are equipped with sound knowledge, attitude, behavior, cultural background, habits and beliefs of those families including specific hereditary diseases and genetic abnormalities. While treating a patient of such family, by the family physician this knowledge would help immensely to provide comprehensive health care. Failure to approach a family doctor is the missing link for the mushroom growth of unethical, unscientific, and exploitation of the poor is the emerging component in the medical practice of late.
According to the World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017, at minimum, 50% of the global population cannot access “essential health services.” The crippling costs of annual checkups, emergency health care and chronic disease treatment often push struggling households into poor quality of life. I am compelled to mention that the dynamic relationship between health and poverty impacts the lives of millions around the globe, especially in India. According to the World Poverty Clock, in 2021, the rate of extreme poverty in India is stood at 7% and the income of 84% of Indian households took a plunge. This is all because of a lack of knowledge on preventive health care, for which a family physician is the right person to initiate a change at the family level. Simple cultivating habits like cleaning hands with soap before taking any food and after using the restroom can reduce the vast burden of diseases on the family. “Clean hands save lives”. To make people rich and self-sufficient, the health of the family to be maintained uneventfully which will give ultimate happiness. Poor families coping with illness might be forced to sell assets to cover medical expenses and borrow at high interest rates. Poverty and health have a two-way relationship.
Regulation
The government should bring regulation or legislation or counselling at grass root level that every patient should take primary health care services from the nearest available family physician who in turn refers them to the corresponding specialty for timely diagnosis and treatment. By doing so, haphazard health expenditure can be drastically cut down which will result in alleviating poverty and improving holistic health. The target of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to alleviate poverty, and to offer a pathway to a better life. By foregoing critical analysis it is evident that if government and non-governmental organizations, stakeholders, policymakers, and International bodies like UNO, WHO, and UNICEF, utilize the services of philosophical approach of family physician services and involve them in the right partnership in the developmental activities, amazing results of MDGs can be achieved in 21st Century.
Philosophy of health should contribute to personal growth and socially constructive attitudes. Its basic is reflective morality, i.e. conscious consideration of possible consequences of own actions. Generally, it should be a dynamic balance based on individual and creative approaches. The philosophy of health should teach us to see our disease as a challenge to create successful life strategies. Our world is a very risky place to live and if a disease strikes it could take us into the dark void of our soul. Therefore, the philosophy of health should teach us to live without disease to the extent possible using a lot of fruitful compromises that enable us still to participate with dignity of life. When an individual develops a philosophical outlook towards health he or she can fight the disease successfully. Unnecessary fear about the disease, and negative feelings may throw the person into darkness and dungeon. Compromising with a disease that has no cure makes a person more accomplished. Chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s, Joint pains, depression, neurosis, and neurological problems can be managed or even cured by applying the principles of the philosophy of Health also sincere faith in Yoga, Meditation, and Pranayama which are all branches of a tree of the Philosophy of Health.