ANALYSIS OF IMPACT OF SOCIAL INEQUALITIES ON PUBLIC HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES

Abstract

Health is without doubt a fundamental human value and we all wish to enjoy a life in good health and well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) outlines that health should be observed as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".
Health is a key indicator for sustainable development of society and the state, so consequently supporting a healthy lifestyle and promoting the well-being of all people, at any age, should be considered a top priority. Empirical and theoretical statements confirm that a whole galaxy of interrelated and co-acting factors - personal characteristics, heredity, our life and behavior, various socio-economic and cultural aspects, the environment, health security produce the end result we strive for - good health . All these impact vectors, also called ``health determinants'' coexist in a condition of mutual dynamics and connectivity, and the dynamism of the health determinants practically reflects the dynamism of the intensive processes of the modern global multicultural world. Careful observation and study of the determinants of health and their interaction reveals a constantly evolving relationship, escalating to a vigorous tension between them at some points. The dynamism of the determinants of health is actually a reflection of the dynamism of the intensive processes of the modern multicultural world. Determinants of health and their derived health outcomes prove to be complex, strongly interrelated and globally acting factors, that collectively shape the health status of the population in synergistic interaction. They have a direct impact on public health and their understanding and management should be seen as an imperative for delivery of adequate and efficient public health care, since they constitute the main source for health related disparities.
The fact that today's reality is characterized by significant disparities in health care in different parts of the world is alarming. Healthcare inequalities determined by the determinants of health are a manifestation of a social-health injustice, which is unacceptable from a moral and ethical point of view. Health disparities are a major focus of public health efforts. Addressing these disparities is essential to achieving health equity and improving overall population health. Overcoming health inequalities requires an interdisciplinary strategic approach that includes adequate social-economic and health policies and joint actions by all stakeholders. Efforts to promote equity in health care are an integral part of achieving the goal of providing everyone with the opportunity to enjoy the optimal level of health and guaranteeing the basic human right - the right to health.