It is more important to spend public money on promoting a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent illness than to spend it on treatment of people who are already ill. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
How public funds for healthcare should be used has always been a debate. Some
people
think that encouraging a healthy lifestyle
ought to be prioritized over treatment of those who are already sick. I completely agree with this
opinion. In this
essay, the relatively low costs and positive ripple effects of promoting healthier ways of life
will be discussed, thus
proving my point.
Comparing to treating patients, motivating citizens to adopt a positive lifestyle
is more cost-effective. A promotion project which might prevent numerous people
from getting sick in the first
place is probably less expensive than caring for a severely sick person who requires sophisticated treatments such
as radiotherapy or surgery. In the United States, cancer patients pay approximately $4 billions for treatment, while the budget for a pro-good-heath campaign is merely around a few hundred thousand dollars. Therefore
, at least when the finance is concerned, it is wiser to choose the promotion of a healthy lifestyle
over patient care.
Moreover
, urging people
to live more healthily can improve many other aspects besides
physical health. Adopting a pro-wellbeing way of life
implies that one will strive to exercise regularly and find a balance between work and relaxation. These changes will not only benefit the body but also
the productivity at work and social relationships. For example
, after my cousin, who never worked out, started going to the gym twice a week and go to bed earlier, she observes that not only does she feel better but her grades and friendships at school also
improve. Hence
, to motivate people
to live more healthily is to enhance their life
in multiple manners.
In conclusion, it is evident that promoting a healthy lifestyle
is more preferable to treating people
who are already ill. Due to the former's financial advantages and its desirable effects in areas other than bodily well-being such
as productivity and interpersonal relationships, I highly recommend that more funding should go to encouraging a healthier way of life
instead
of caring for patients.Submitted by sophievo0944 on
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