Health Hygiene & Sanitation

Lesson 01 : Introduction To Health And Concepts

Changing Concepts Of Health

Biomedical Concept: Traditionally health was considered as ‘absence of disease’. An individual was considered healthy, if he is free from diseases. This concept is referred to as biomedical concept. Medically human body is equated to a machine, and disease was looked as breakdown of machine while doctor was considered as the repairer of the machine. Thus, health became the ultimate goal of medicine.

Criticism: Biomedical concept has minimized the role of other determinants of health namely social, environmental, psychological and cultural. Thus, was found inefficient in solving major health related problems (drug abuse, accidents, malnutrition, etc.).