Essay Sample on Health Policy in the US

Introduction

According to McLaughlin and McLaughlin (2015), the process of development of health policy application to the United States needs to include the perspective of various professions and disciplines. Having considered that the US is a nation of numerous actors but with no integrated, coherent and systematic policy on health at the federal level, decision-makers tend to be informed by personal backgrounds and experiences, including political, economics, management, science, public health and communications.

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Unlike the blend of subjects specified in the international conventions, the Preamble of the WHO Constitution is a breathtakingly comprehensible statement, attesting that its inherent principles are essential to the harmonious relations, happiness and wellbeing of the society, and hence expressing fresh sets of universal aspirations. WHO defines health as a "complete physical, mental, and social well-being" (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2008, p. 183). As it says, health is a fundamental condition for attainment, and the optimum achievement of health is a crucial right of all persons. The definition characterizes health indiscriminately, as a complete mental social and physical well-being rather than merely the absence of infirmity or disease, which it ought to be incorporated into the US health policy.

The public health concept is contemporary, and hence certain rights, for example, those related to life, health, the pursuit of happiness and liberty cannot be conceded or denied by any administration since they are inalienable, fundamental human rights (Bryant, 2016). The US health policy should be aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will provide more clearly the role of the government in contributing towards a healthy nation. According to The Preamble, the obligation will be imposed by external forces but instead following all human rights, and thus humanity as a whole.

The US health policy needs to demonstrate, as The Preamble that the health of citizens is essential to the attainment of security and peace, and is subject to the overall cooperation of the government and its people. It is critical that the policy mirrors the connection between health, wellbeing, peace, and security as it is evident that poverty, disease and other social ills can destabilize societies and government. The section is critical as it demonstrates that the success of the US in the protection and promotion of health is significant to all. Subsequently, different development in health promotion, especially in disease control is a common threat (Bryant, 2016). The assertion well depicted in the past pandemics and the inescapable HIV/AIDS threat, which has not been effectively contained and has likewise, destabilized a few countries.

Disease prevention and the advancement of health require the continuous application of medical and scientific findings. The Preamble asserts, tending to the conditions for the promotion of health, the value of sound child development, taking note of that it is necessary to the development of a child to live amicably in a consistently evolving environment. The provision can be an essential inclusion on the health policy as it will guarantee full attainment of public health, ensuring that psychological, medical and associated knowledge is exploited and extended to all members of the society.

Conclusion

The above principles serve as the reminder that physical borders cannot be the barrier to access to vital knowledge and medical interventions, and such hindrances are not justifiable in both political and economic terms. Considering the complexity of the task ahead, active cooperation and informed opinion of the public are critical for the development of more coherent and integrated health policy for the American citizens at the federal level.

References

Bryant, T. (2016). Health policy in Canada. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press Inc.

McLaughlin, C. P., & McLaughlin, C. (2015). Health policy analysis: An interdisciplinary approach (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.