A Healthy Society, Updated and Expanded Edition: How a Focus on Health Can Revive Canadian Democracy

A Healthy Society offers a new approach to politics – and a new approach to building a healthier world. Dr. Meili argues that health delivery too often focuses on treatment of immediate causes and ignores fundamental conditions that lead to poor health, such as income, education, employment, housing, and environment. This updated edition explores the positive steps that have been taken since publication of the first edition, and includes expanded discussions of basic income, poverty reduction strategies, innovative housing polices, carbon pricing, and the role of health professionals in working for health equity. This book breaks important ground, showing us how a focus on health can change Canadian politics for the better. "A Healthy Society, Updated and Expanded Edition, is one doctor's vision for a new approach to politics--and a new approach to building a healthier world. Brought to life through a mix of expertise and story, this book appeals beyond political lines to address our common values, arguing that health is a measure of our success as a society. Drawing on his experiences as a family physician in the inner city of Saskatoon, in rural Saskatchewan, and in Mozambique, Dr. Meili argues that health delivery too often focuses on treatment of immediate causes and ignores more fundamental conditions that lead to poor health. Far more than the actions of healthcare providers, it is the social determinants of health--income, education, employment, housing, the wider environment, and social supports--that make the greatest difference. This updated edition describes the positive steps that have been taken since the first edition was published in 2012. It includes: new chapters on poverty, food security, and climate change; new content in every chapter, with expanded discussions on basic income, poverty reduction strategies, innovative housing polices, carbon pricing, and the role of health professionals in working for health equity; new accounts by patients about their experiences in the health care system. This edition breaks important ground, showing us how a focus on health can change Canadian politics for the better."-- Provided by publisher « A Healthy Society, Updated and Expanded Edition, is one doctor's vision for a new approach to politics--and a new approach to building a healthier world. Brought to life through a mix of expertise and story, this book appeals beyond political lines to address our common values, arguing that health is a measure of our success as a society. Drawing on his experiences as a family physician in the inner city of Saskatoon, in rural Saskatchewan, and in Mozambique, Dr. Meili argues that health delivery too often focuses on treatment of immediate causes and ignores more fundamental conditions that lead to poor health. Far more than the actions of healthcare providers, it is the social determinants of health--income, education, employment, housing, the wider environment, and social supports--that make the greatest difference. This updated edition describes the positive steps that have been taken since the first edition was published in 2012. It includes: new chapters on poverty, food security, and climate change; new content in every chapter, with expanded discussions on basic income, poverty reduction strategies, innovative housing polices, carbon pricing, and the role of health professionals in working for health equity; new accounts by patients about their experiences in the health care system. This edition breaks important ground, showing us how a focus on health can change Canadian politics for the better. »-- Résumé de l'éditeur A Healthy Society Draws On One Doctor's Experience In Family Practice, Community Building, And Politics To Envision A New Approach To Politics - And A Healthier World. Determining Health -- A Healthy Society -- Medicine On A Larger Scale -- Growth And Development -- The World Around Us -- The Equality Of Mercy -- Learning To Live -- Heading Downstream -- Less Politics, More Democracy -- Our Future Together. Ryan Meili. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Foreword • André Picard Foreword to the First Edition • Roy Romanow Preface 1 A Healthy Society 2 Medicine on a Larger Scale 3 The Extra Mile 4 Growth and Development 5 The Search for a Cure to Poverty 6 Out of House and Home 7 The Warming World 8 The Equality of Mercy 9 Learning to Live 10 Heading Downstream 11 Less Politics, More Democracy 12 Our Future Together Notes Acknowledgments Index About the Author