- Published: September 14, 2022
- Updated: September 14, 2022
- University / College: Cornell University
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
- Downloads: 19
Personal ment Sweden being the third largest country of the European Union, in terms of its size, holds very important political and socio-cultural dynamics over the entire continent. With a population density of 55. 6/sq mi, the health issues of the country have remained on the top-notch priority list of the government, since the publication of the National Public Health Reports dated as of 1987. Based on the health trends across the country, which depends upon the social conditions and living habits, Sweden is known in the world for its best attention towards medical care. Yet, there were many reports of medical negligence and inequality as regards to the implementation of the national Health Policy across the population in equitable terms (United States Census Bureau, “ U. S. and World Population Clock”).
With the vision to attain health equity and issues like SDH, Swedish government has adopted a Public Health Policy, comprehensive in nature, promoted by the Swedish Parliament in April 2003 at Riskdag. This policy elevates the health issues on the paradigm of national political agenda and makes the process of equity in health policy an agenda of topmost priority. The objective of the policy was therefore, to attain some basic societal conditions across the country, which shall tend to provide “ good health on equal terms for the entire population” (World Health Organisation, “ Social determinants of health: Sweden”).
Life style habits influence health largely and this has been an evident and proven fact across the world. Therefore, a serious motivation for the improvement of healthy living conditions and life style habits undertaken by the Swedish government has acted as a role model for the entire world. The establishment of eleven domains of objectives by the government of Sweden with connections to SDH has further acted meticulously, as a device to implement equity in health services across the country (Lager, Berlin, Heimerson and Danielsson 55-56).
It is quite important for a government to maintain standard and equal living conditions and lifestyle habits across the population in order to implement equity of health services. With this vision, the Swedish government has undertaken some remarkable policies, which has become exemplary before the rest of the world. The first step undertaken by the government was the active participation of the Swedish populace on the national health mission and its influence on them. Next, the economic and social securities of the citizens were ensured. It is often argued that childhood and adolescence are the most delicate periods of life wherein a safe and favourable living and mental hygiene is highly required during this period, which did not escape the eyes of the Swedish government at all. A major focus was given by the government on the healthier working life and use of healthy and environment-friendly products. Health and medical care, which actively promoted good health, were also being practiced. In addition, effective protective measures against communicable diseases were undertaken (World Health Organisation, “ Social determinants of health: Sweden”).
Safe sex and increase in the rate of HIV positive patients has also been a seminal agenda in health care. Therefore, a good reproductive health and safe sex became the agenda that was promoted across the populace effectively. Government of Sweden also took care for increased physical activities and promotions of good eating habits and safe food. Along with this, an effective and acute mission for reduction of tobacco and alcohol was taken up as a health agenda. The mission of the Swedish government was to make a society free from illicit drugs and doping practices. A mission was also undertaken to reduce the harmful effects of excessive gambling. These eleven objectives escalated the health mission of Sweden to a realm, which became an icon or example for the health policy in the entire world (Danielsson, Berglund, Forsberg, Larsson, Rogala and Tydén 176-178).
Works Cited
Danielsson, Maria, Torsten Berglund, Margareta Forsberg, Margareta Larsson, Christina Rogala and Tanja Tydén. “ Sexual and reproductive health: Health in Sweden: The National Public Health Report 2012. Chapter 9.” Scand Journal Public Health, 40: 176-196. Print.
Lager, Anton, Marie Berlin, Inger Heimerson and Maria Danielsson. “ Young peoples health: Health in Sweden: The National Public Health Report 2012. Chapter 3.” Scand Journal Public Health, 40: 42–71. Print.
“ U. S. and World Population Clock.” United States Census Bureau, 2014. Web. 27 Aug. 2014. “ Social determinants of health: Sweden.” World Health Organisation, 2014. Web. 27 Aug. 2014.