Determinants of health

There are many differing opinions of how many determinants of health exist. The WHO (World Health Organization) has 3 determinates; Physical environment, Biological and behavioral determinants, and the social environment. Each determinant list has several different sub-categories. The physical environment includes shelter, stable ecosystem, peace, etc. Social environment includes income education, and access to health care. Biological and behavioral determinants include genetic factors, ethnicity, and lifestyle (as cited in University of Ottawa Determinants: Definitions and Core Concepts, 2017, p.01). The Public Health Agency of Canada list 12 different determinants. Many of these determinants would fall under the WHO social determinant. These are what many would categories as socio-economic status (Determinants: Definitions and Core Concepts, 2017, p. 01).

Currently, Physicians tend to treat the results of these determinants. A preventive or health determinant focused system is less “economically wasteful” than a cure focused approach (Determinants: Definitions and Core Concepts, 2017, p.01). A study done from 1991 to 2006 showed how social economic factors had a large impact on individual Canadians. Morbidity and mortality correlated with several factors including education, income, and occupation (Determinants: Definitions and Core Concepts, 2017, p.03).

During the spring election in Alberta, the UCP (United Conservative Party) introduced their health platform. This platform mirrored what an Angus Reid Institute survey reported. This survey ranked health care and government spending as 4th important issue. Biggest issue reported was energy and pipelines at 49%. Jobs, unemployment and the economy at 41%. Health care was less important this election than in previous years (Braid, 2019).

Since the spring election, Alberta Health Services will have to deal with potential cuts to funding. This will be challenging due to rising health demands (Gerein, 2019). Gerein (2019) suggest that one of the components of the UCP platform is decreased wait times for surgeries. A possible solution is the use of private clinics for government funded day surgeries (Gerein, 2019). Currently Alberta funds private clinics for procedures that include cataracts, abortions, and insured plastic surgeries (Gerein, 2019).

Being an employee of Albert Health Services, our future is uncertain. A review of Alberta Health Services should be completed by Dec 31, 2019 (Braid, 2019). Since the likely hood of cuts in funding, I often wonder which of my own health determinants will be affected.

University of Ottawa Determinants: Definitions and Core Concepts (2017, August 2) Retrieved from https://www.med.uottawa.ca/SIM/Data/Pub_Determinants_e.htm#CDR

Braid, D. (2019, March 26). UCP health care policy invites return to PC-era chaos. Calgary Herald. Retrieved from https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/braid-ucp-health-care-policy-invites-return-to-pc-era-chaos.

Gerein,K. (2019, April 11). UCP health platform offers spending restraint, but also plenty of concerning questions. Edmonton Journal. Retrieved from https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/keith-gerein-ucp-health-platform-offers-spending-restraint-but-also-plenty-of-concerning-questions.