The Perils of Medicalization for Population Health and Health Equity

Policy Points: center dot Medicalization is a historical process by which personal, behavioral, and social issues are increasingly viewed through a biomedical lens and diagnosed and treated as individual pathologies and problems bymedical authorities. center dot Medicalization in the United States has led to a conflation of health and health care and a confusion between individual social needs versus the social, political, and economic determinants of health. center dot The essential and important work of population health science, public health practice, and health policy writ large is being thwarted by a medicalized view of health and an overemphasis on personal health services and the health care delivery system as the major focal point for addressing societal health issues and health inequality. center dot Increased recognition of the negative consequences of a medicalized view of health is essential, with a focus on education and training of clinicians and health care managers, journalists, and policymakers.

Automated summary

The process of medicalization views personal, behavioral, and social issues through a biomedical lens and diagnoses and treats them as individual pathologies by medical authorities. In the United States, medicalization has led to a conflation of health and healthcare and a confusion between individual needs and social determinants of health. The focus on personal health services and healthcare delivery system has hindered population health science, public health practice, and health policy in addressing societal health issues and health inequality. Increased recognition of the negative consequences of medicalization is necessary, emphasizing education and training of clinicians, healthcare managers, journalists, and policymakers.