The health society
In the health society the expansion and do-ability of health is increasingly driven not by social reform or the medical expert/knowledge systems but by a new mix between the driving forces of empowerment of the citizen/consumer/patient and of the private market. The latest incarnation of these developments is the wellness revolution which marries personal health and the market: the do ability of health translates into a product that can be bought on the market.
Kickbusch, Ilona: Health and Citizenship: the characteristics of 21st century health. In: World Hospitals and Health Services, Vol.40 No.4 page 12 - 14
The concept of the health society allows the study of health as an exemplary area of the “consequences of modernity” in all its dimensions. It was first explored on occasion of being awarded the special honour to speak in Vienna in November 2004 as part of the prestigious lecture series “Wiener Vorlesungen”.
In July 2006 Ilona Kickbusch published a book on the health society in German (Die Gesundheitsgesellschaft).” She lectures widely on this concept and The Health Society will be the subject of the 2008 meeting of German speaking health and medical sociologists.
In English, the concept of the health society is explored in the publication on “Health and Modernity: the Role of Theory in Health Promotion” edited by David McQueen, Ilona Kickbusch et al published by Springer in spring 2007.
Defining characteristics of the health society are:
- Changing demographics, a high life expectancy and an increasingly ageing population
- an expansive health and medical care system that takes up increasing parts of the GNP
- an expanding health market for information, products and services both alongside (for example wellness) and within the medical system
- the increasing prominence of health in the debate about political and social priorities, about solidarity rights and responsibilities
- the increasing importance of health as a major personal goal in life linked to its do ability
- and health as a key component of modern citizenship.
Some key publications:
- Health and Modernity. The Role of Theory in Health Promotion, edited by David McQueen and Ilona Kickbusch, 2007, ISBN: 978-0-387-37757-5
- Die Gesundheitsgesellschaft. 2006 Verlag Gesundheitsförderung. Gamburg. www.conrad-verlag.de
- Grundlegende Änderung des Begriffs Gesundheit. In: Managed Care. 4/2007, S. 6-7
- Gesundheit für Alle. GDI Impuls, Sommer 2006, S.16-23
- Responding to the health society Health Promotion International 2007 22: 89-91
- Speakers Corner: the Health Society: the need for a Theory. June 2006
- Wiener Vorlesung: Die Gesundheitsgesellschaft Oktober 2004 (*.doc)
- Health and citizenship: the characteristics of 21st century health, IAPO Reception, Geneva (*.pdf)
- EXPO 2000: Gesundheitspark
