Each time I have a period of poor health, I begin to reflect on how we deprioritise our health and well-being until it begins to deteriorate.
I recently read a Mckinsey report about how we are all trapped in the Health Matrix- a convoluted system of healthcare, whereby we are not fit enough to live life the way we want to, but are sick enough to rely on the healthcare industry complex.
I’ve recently been suffering from a chesty cough, nosebleeds and difficulty to muster up the energy to tackle life head-on. During my visit to the doctor today, I was prescribed an inhaler, antibiotics and a topical ointment.
While I visited the pharmacist, he offered me a monthly payment scheme to help me get regular prescriptions for a marginal discount to help me use the inhaler.
It left me quite shocked.
The idea of prevention had gone out the window- instead, we were left with a binary choice. In his mind, the financial incentives of a regular payment were more important than a long-term approach to my health.
How could I blame him?
Even in a country that had supposedly free healthcare at the point of access- it was a sham.
Every moment, there was an opportunity for providers and practitioners to increase the earnings of their institution through seemingly small actions.
How can we create a culture that prioritises health?
I have two main interests- social inequality and health inequality. The more I dive into these two areas, the more I realise that- they are intrinsically linked.
It’s a chicken or egg scenario- is it health inequality that creates further social inequality, or is it pervasive social inequality that causes continually poor health outcomes?
I consider people’s abilities to access healthcare when they need it- the system is so complex now, that it would be difficult for most people to understand how to navigate it in a way that leads to the best possible outcomes for themselves and the people they care about.
The culture starts with individuals and trust- while people no longer trust healthcare institutions, it’s futile to begin attempting to rebuild that trust through media, content and influencer-style tactics.
On the other hand, individuals who prioritise health in a balanced and meaningful way should be celebrated.
Whether this is people who exercise regularly or those who highlight the importance of a balanced diet- these actions create a ripple effect that highlight the importance of personal responsibility to improve your health.
Culture is the accumulation of small decisions and identity shifts that occur from the individual to the international level.
Human civilization and the natural world are both sick; they are slowly decaying together. While oil and gas companies can pump the atmosphere full of toxic air, while weapon manufacturers profit from the demise of entire settlements and financial incentives create a perverse way of living- we will not see change.
The only way to change this is to begin on an individual level- it starts by speaking out and fighting back against the tide of hate and lies that we’re all surrounded by.
