A primary focus of Canadian Healthcare spending is the detection and treatment of serious disease. Our tax dollars allocate spending priority to conventional medical services, in particular to costs associated with hospital visits. With populations aging, Governments all around the world are coming to terms with runaway predictions on future spending. In 2007, Canada started implementing a plan to restructure healthcare in light of insights about the success of this system. And one insight in particular: keeping a population healthy is much less expensive than trying to cure them when they are ill.
Why people become ill is not fully understood, yet it is generally accepted that lifestyle choices influence overall health. Consequently, preventative healthcare is gradually gaining ground. The idea of making healthier choices earlier in life is becoming more popular and widely accepted.
Our current healthcare model provides important services. To be more comprehensive and effective, this model going forward will also encompass preventative healthcare. Prevention is key to building a healthy society.
What does prevention include?
- Learning to work in harmony with our bodies: respecting the body’s innate ability to heal. Understanding when to apply gentle treatments that result in gradual improvements as opposed to sometimes harsh conventional treatments incorporating medications with side-effects. Recognizing that many chronic conditions can greatly benefit from natural approaches.
- Looking to our Earth: improving the quality of our food; utilizing the healing properties of plants; focusing on clean water and air; nurturing an ecologically aware nation. Supporting organic farmers and eco-friendly products.
- Changing the nature of doctor-patient relationships: while doctors possess a specific medical knowledge and skills, the aim is to educate individuals to make better lifestyle choices and encourage active participation in their well-being – only then can we expect long-term change.
- Going back to the basics: sleep, food and exercise. Balancing life routines and regimes to ensure adequate sleep and exercise without excessive dietary intake.
- Returning to traditional ways of healing: there is much wisdom from the past that has successfully helped individuals remain healthy.
- Expanding our expectations: no longer accepting that stiffness, pain or other discomforts are normal beyond the age of 50.
Health underlies all we do. It is the fabric upon which our lifestyles are built. If we aim to live active, enjoyable lifestyles: health is a prerequisite. Our daily choices will be reflected in our futures. The time to start integrating healthful habits is now.