Global health is currently facing an existential crisis. Traditional values that once underpinned our healthcare systems are eroding, and yet, no new or superior values have emerged to replace them. Furthermore, the essential spirit of internationalismâcritical for global cooperationâis under severe threat. Factors such as political compromises, financial instability, terrorism, and ecological challenges are undermining this spirit. These threats highlight a crucial point: healthcare delivery systems cannot function effectively in isolation. This crisis transcends the realm of health, mirroring deeper, systemic issues within our civilisation that significantly impact the medical profession.
Medical professionals today often find themselves facing a myriad of challenges. They work within a conflicted system where their advice may be overlooked, and their prescriptions compete with poor lifestyle choices, such as unhealthy diets, alcohol consumption, smoking, and high sugar intake. Additionally, physicians are increasingly treating teens suffering from back, neck, and growth problems due to the constant downward gaze at their phones. In emergency situations they must on occasions rely on intuition and surprisingly, although physicians frequently confront life-and-death situations, they are rarely trained to manage death. To them, a patient's death is often seen as a personal or systemic failure. Yet, death is an intrinsic part of life that is both inevitable and essential to the cycle of existence.
Physicians also face situations where their ethical beliefs clash with legal requirements, leaving them unprepared and conflicted. The advancement of medical technology has further complicated their roles, especially in matters concerning the dignity of death. It is now possible to artificially prolong life, even in a vegetative state, raising complex ethical questions. Additionally, the potential of cloning technology prompts them to consider whether it could not only replicate individuals but possibly create unique talents. Moreover, they confront an inherent dilemma when prescribing medications. They are frequently pressed to offer quick, chemical solutions for complex issues, often conflicting with their professional judgment and the deeper needs of their patients.
Given these significant internal pressures, it is unsurprising that experts are raising alarms about the sustainability of national health systems. As highlighted by Campbell and Bawden (2024) in an article from The Guardian, leading doctors and NHS leaders have called on the government to declare the NHS a national emergency. They cite chronic underinvestment, pervasive staff shortages, and an aging population as critical factors posing an existential threat to the service. It is suggested that the NHS is in such a dire state that the next government should declare it a national emergency. This call to action reflects the urgent need to address these systemic challenges, which mirror the broader, global crises in healthcare delivery and medical ethics.
As we seek solutions to these pervasive issues, some propose leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) as a promising ally. AI is now considered as the new option to revolutionise healthcare by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, optimising resource allocation, and personalising treatment plans. However, the integration of AI into healthcare is not without its challenges. These include substantial costs and complex ethical considerations, such as ensuring data privacy and preventing algorithmic bias. Without careful implementation, AI could potentially amplify existing disparities in healthcare delivery.
Interestingly, the word "health" has its roots in the Old English word "hÇŁlth," derived from "hÄl," meaning "whole" or "well." This etymology reflects the fundamental idea of health as a state of completeness or soundness in body, mind, and spirit. Related words like "heal," "whole," and "holy" emphasise a sense of totality and well-being, illustrating that historically, health pertains not merely to physical wellness but to an overall integrity and balance. This broader understanding underscores the importance of integral health, which seeks to harmonise the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person to achieve inner well-being.
In Ayurveda, the term for health, "SwÄsthya," transcends the simplistic notion of mere freedom from illness or a positive state of well-being. Instead, it denotes a profound state of being rooted in oneâs spiritual essence. This implies a consciousness that operates on various planesâphysical, vital, and mentalâand is in communion with cosmic consciousness. Ayurveda's ancient, time-tested concept of health arose primarily from a consciousness perspective, suggesting that all other definitions are secondary to SwÄsthya.
This discourse invites us to consider whether a return to older, holistic health systems could address our current health crises. Such a shift would mean grounding our health paradigm not just in a mixture of ideas but in a holistic understanding that respects both physical and existential dimensions of well-being. By integrating traditional wisdom with modern practices, we can develop a more comprehensive approach to health, promising a pathway through the existential threats of our era toward a future where we are truly whole.
In my initial discussion, I highlighted the inner conflicts among physicians as a reflection of broader systemic issues in healthcare. The discord between the internal struggles of medical professionals and the external demands placed on them mirrors our society's troubled relationship with nature. Imbalances between mental and physical well-being often lead to illnesses and expose the limitations of current medical practices. An integral approach to health, one that enhances the body's receptivity and balances all aspects of being, might offer profound solutions.
Recently, I was watching a video about the 1940s, a time of minimal waste. There were no bin collections, no shopping bags, and even fruit required no packaging, which sharply contrasts with todayâs reliance on material and technological solutions. We have now reached a point where our disposal habits, akin to a gigantic parasitic system of external dependency, have infiltrated the very food chain we depend on. This is evidenced by the microplastics found in the fish we consume. This alarming reality prompts a critical question: Is it prudent to return to older traditions and holistic systems of health that nurture involution? Such a shift would ensure that our health paradigm is grounded not in an eclectic mix of ideas, but in profound, traditional wisdom that views health through a holistic lens. Could an integral approach to health, which increases the bodyâs receptivity, provide the answers? This approach should not simply blend diverse ideas but rediscover a unique way of understanding and living truth. By integrating traditional wisdom with modern practices, we can develop a more comprehensive approach to health that respects both physical and existential dimensions of well-being.
In essence, addressing our health crisis requires a paradigm shift from a purely external medical model of dependency to one that incorporates spiritual, psychological, and integral health. This holistic vision could guide us toward solutions that heal not only the body but also nourish the soul and restore the collective spirit as well as support our relationship with nature. Our approach to health must evolve to meet the challenges of our time. By revisiting ancient wisdom, we can find sustainable ways to nurture health that are as much about inner fulfilment as they are about physical survival. This integrated approach promises a pathway through the existential threats of our era, towards a future where we are truly whole.
References
Basu. S. (2011) Integral Health, A conscious Approach to Health and Healing, India: SAIIHR
Basu, S. (2022) Involution and Evolution of Consciousness - Part 2. Available at:
(Accessed 11 May 2024).
Campbell, D. and Bawden, A. (2024) 'Next government should declare NHS a national emergency, experts warn', The Guardian, 31 January. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/31/next-government-should-declare-nhs-a-national-emergency-experts-warn (Accessed 11 May 2024).
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You are making so many important points in this article.
»The discord between the internal struggles of medical professionals and the external demands placed on them mirrors our society's troubled relationship with nature.«
YES!
»addressing our health crisis requires a paradigm shift from a purely external medical model of dependency to one that incorporates spiritual, psychological, and integral health.This holistic vision could guide us toward solutions that heal not only the body but also nourish the soul and restore the collective spirit as well as support our relationship with nature. «
Yes, and YES!!
Our âhealth crisisâ is not a problem of individuals getting sick (as if our environment were perfectly healthy and conducive to making humans thrive). It is one of many expressions of a sick society.
Important article, which there is much to discuss.
There is indeed a health crisis; all the signs point to an end of the model that we have been using for the last 200 years or so, which tends to look at the body and mind as a machine. In addition, modern medicine is not so much curative as it is about control and management, as in managing hypertension, diabetes, pain, etc.
While A.I. might seem like a wonderful diagnostic tool, given that it is computer-based tech suggests that it will rely on the same old model with digital bells and whistles.
New wine in old wineskins. I doubt AI or computer tech will lead to better healthcare for individuals since it just magnifies the original problem.
What is needed is a more holistic approach of healing our minds and bodies, which are connected. This leads to a curative mindset. Maybe one day Big Pharma will be out of business.