A reflection on health and disease amid COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Ethics
• Sociomedicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has persisted for over a year, significantly impacting physical, mental, and social well-being.
• Current medical paradigms emphasize a reductionist view of disease and a biomedical model of health.
• This focus has led healthcare systems to prioritize virus eradication over comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the prevailing biomedical model in medicine.
• To advocate for a broader perspective incorporating humanities and ethics in healthcare.
• To propose a shift towards an ecological view of disease and a sociomedical model of health.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and critical analysis of current medical paradigms.
• Ethical and humanistic reflection on disease and health concepts.
• Comparative analysis of biomedical vs. sociomedical models.

Main Results:

• The dominant biomedical model inadequately addresses the multifaceted impacts of pandemics.
• A reductionist approach leads to an overemphasis on pathogen control at the expense of patient well-being.
• Humanities and ethics offer crucial perspectives for a more holistic understanding of health.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare policy and practice require a fundamental reorientation.
• Adopting an ecological view of disease and a sociomedical model is essential for improved patient care.
• Future strategies must integrate patient well-being, mental health, and social factors alongside biomedical interventions.