Is Health Policy about Problem Solving or about Preventing or Minimizing Problems?

Health policy refers to decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society. And in modern times, countries usually adhere to a singular health policy so that there is uniformity and ease in its implementation. 

But therein lies the question. Is the policy about solving the current problems at hand? Or should the policy be farsighted and aim more at preventive measures, while looking at minimizing problems?  There is no sure answer to solving any health problem, nor are the health problems standalone. They are an intricate network of combinations of factors which affect a single health problem. And these complex problems require complex solutions, which might also require grasping windows of opportunity as and when they present.

Back in 2011 Ecuador introduced a three-day ban on alcohol sales to curb the binge-drinking problem. Authorities also bought back contaminated alcohol still in circulation. 

In Bhutan, a Tobacco Control Act was introduced in 2010 by the parliament, with amendments in 2012 and 2014. This act brought into effect the ban of tobacco sale, and smoking in public places, while tobacco import was taxed 200 percent.

Likewise, Fidel Castro’s post-revolution 1959 Cuba had various reforms and policies, not necessarily and directly health but related to the overall wellbeing of the nation. Education and transportation developments combined with the improvements in Health facilities led to Cuba’s healthcare system becoming exemplary, so much that even Ban ki-Moon is a fan. He during a visit to Cuba hailed its healthcare service as, “a model for many countries”.

So, health policy formulation is about both problem solving and prevention. As it is wildly said, prevention is better than cure also works in the health sector. That is why there are money and scientific knowledge poured into finding immunizations and vaccines. They are the prevention tactics. That is why flu shots are introduced and made mandatory by the government. If a disease is already cured, there is less expenses down the line.

But in order to find a cure, there needs for a disease to exist. In order to find a solution, there needs for a problem to exist. Only after a problem is identified then a solution would usually be found for it. Taking the example of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is a well-known fact that it started from Wuhan in China. It is also known that the COVID-19 virus is transmitted through water droplets, which can be produced from coughing, which are usually not spread beyond 1.5 meters.

So, every country and relevant science institutions are working together to try to find a cure for the virus. And it is taking a long time. It will take longer for the cure to be finalized and mass produced to reach every country, whether they can afford of not. Meanwhile the only alternative is to work at preventing the spread of infections from the positive cases. And that is largely done through the ‘social distancing’ that is made almost mandatory. And to that effect, business which require close physical interaction are closed. And social distancing regulations are enforced. These various emergency policies enforced by the governments are all under various stages of trial-and-error reforms.

In the three country specific examples and the one COVID-19 example, I have pointed out that health policies need not necessarily be only about just looking at prevention, or minimizing or solving the problem. To conclude, in the short run health policy is about solving the problem that is current. But in the long run, it should be about minimizing a problem or solving it once and for all.

Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Referral Hospital in Thimpu, Bhutan. Photo courtesy: Bhutan Vajra Adventures