Defining Health – 1948 and present

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in 1948 as “as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmary”. Although this is sufficient, it does not unpack adequately the consideration of the social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH are health in the broader sense – consider what level of health you would be able to achieve if you could not afford dental care, or adequate housing, or could not access education due to systemic racism or other factors. When I think about SDOH, I always think about the hierarchy of needs – how can you adequately address your mental health needs when you are struggling to buy food.

The definition also does not speak explicitly about what health could look like for those with chronic illness or developmental or physical disabilities. Health is not a stagnant state, nor is it the same mountain to summit for every person. I feel the word ‘complete’ within the definition undermines these ideas.

The component of the definition that speaks to ‘not merely the absence of disease and infirmary is a very medical model turn of phrase and does not read overly holistically.

Finally, the definition was derived in a post-war era 75 years ago – that alone lends itself to the consideration of at least looking at this definition systematically to ensure it is still viable in today’s world. In 1948, the definition was considered to be quite progressive by many health professionals and not overly practical by the critics. Also in 1948 the polio vaccine was not yet developed, international health regulations did not exist, smallpox was rampant, mental health supports were almost nonexistent and global travel was not a significant means of spreading the population (and endemic disease) across the globe.