The Importance of Distinguishing Health and Medicine

Most of the things that keep you well have nothing to do with medical care. Your lifestyle, your genes and bad luck are also key factors in health. Life expectancy has increased because of more basic things like sanitation,. hygiene, nutrition. These are now known as the social determinants of health. Medical care is one component but for most people it would be a very small component. It's not about who should give consent to an operation or what should be told to the patient. We're talking about issues of justice and fairness. What drugs should be available? Why should they be available? Who should they beavailable to? These are questions about health. They're moral questions, but they're