PHM-Exch> My suggestions to Director General of WHO regarding Political Health and Political Determinants of Health

[Mohammad Zakaria Pezeshki]

November  6,  2021

His Excellency Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus


Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

Dear Director General

The mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19 pandemics and its several
devastating complications presents us with yet more evidence that
“Politics” is the most important determinant of human health and wellbeing.
As you and other public health experts well know, Rudolph Virchow
(1821–1902), the father of modern pathology
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology>, said: “All diseases have two
causes, one pathological, the other political.”

Considering your excellent idea: “Health is a political choice that all
countries can make.”,

Considering the very important role of deliberative democracy,
participatory policy making and participatory legislation in the citizens'
health and wellbeing,

Considering the growing evidence on the Political Determinants of Health,

I suggest that the WHO:

To add “political well-being” as an important aspect of health to the WHO's
definition of health: Health is a state of complete physical, mental,
social *and political *well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.

To define Political Health,

To define Political Determinants of Health,

To encourage researchers to develop valid and reliable tools for measuring
Political Health and Political Determinants of Health

My preliminary definition of Political Health is as follows: As a human
right, Political Health is a citizen’s ability and skill to participate in
driving the “Political Will” toward “Governance for Health”.

The governments may promote Political Health by investing in deliberative
democracy, participatory policy making and participatory legislation.

Best regards,

Mohammad Zakaria Pezeshki, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor
Department of Community and Family Medicine,
Tabriz Medical School, Golgasht Avenue, Tabriz, Iran,
Tel:  ++ 98 413  336 46 73
Fax: ++ 98 413 336 46 68
Email: zakaria.pezeshki at gmail.co






*Mohammad Zakaria Pezeshki, M.D.,M.P.H.Associate ProfessorDepartment of
Community and Family Medicine,Tabriz Medical School, Golgasht Avenue,
Tabriz, Iran,Tel:  ++ 98 413  336 46 73Fax: ++ 98 413 336 46 68*
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