1. Health Policy and the Co-perception of Individual Responsibility in the Neoliberal Model
1st International Conference in Contemporary Social Sciences
Crisis and the Social Sciences: New Challenges and Perspectives
 Rethymno, June 2016
Dr. Stefanos Koffas (Μ.Α. Ph.D.)

2. Dr. Koffas Stefanos
Lecturer, Department of Social Work, Frederick University Cyprus
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aspridis George
Department of Business Administration, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Greece,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikova Donka,
Department of Economic Sociology, University of National & World Economy, Bulgaria,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dagmar Škodová-Parmová
University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic,
Professor Dr. Labros Sdrolias
Department of Business Administration, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly,

3. Individual co-perception and health policies in neoliberal societies
Contents of presentation
1. The meaning of Health today
2. Ιndividual co-perception and neoliberal economy system
2.1 The individualistic approach
2.2 The centralized approach
3. Health promotion
3.1 Health policy and factors of health promotion
3.2 Health investment and policies of WHO

4. The meaning of Health today
In the past was existing the single-dimensional clinical medical view about health (body health or disease)
The new view of health is holistic and includes the Cartesian dimension of body and mind
WHO defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’’
Today health includes not only biological dimensions, but also psychological (such mental factors, stress), sociological (such life conditions and quality) and environmental (culture, condition in the environs)

5. Correlation between individual co-perception and neoliberal economy system
The individualistic approach
each individual is responsible for his own acts and behaviour and be considered for the state of his health
countries with neoliberal model of social policy transfer a significant portion of the responsibility for health services to each individual and his behaviour
health is an economic good, just like any other, and each individual has an autonomous role in acquiring it
the level of health is differentiated, depending on the degree that the autonomous personal responsibility

6. The individualistic approach
For the neoliberal model health is a economic good and all participants much support it, following acts of prevention and health promotion
The behaviour of individuals who is oriented towards health promotion, is a primary prevention
the primary prevention, is financially less taxing, since the cost of prevention is low compared to that of treatment
In cases by individual hazardous behavior and consciously risks, the overall cost (individual, social and public) is much higher
Influence element are the mentality, habits, communication and educational process
Individuals must take care more responsibility themselves oriented to health promotion

7. The centralized approach (state model)
In cases on the state model, health is considered as public good. The quality differs according to the available state resources
the individual’s participation is through the health insurance that citizens are obliged to have and pay for
is a life-long dynamic interaction with various interlinked factors as parts of the social and life standards
Each individual creates and accepts standards concerning quality of life, nutrition, occupation, physical exercise, actions
the outcome depends on the co-responsibility shown by each person, the rationality of his behaviors, of his ability to adjust in order to recognize the risk of certain practices in his social and biological environment.

8. The centralized approach (state model)
In the ideal case of both the positive cultural influence and the individual’s conscious inwardness on health matters, medical intervention is minimal
Social standards and the current culture influence the choice of personal choices
the form of conservatism or tradition is not all time the best choice because the significant changes in the real life, decisions and individual acts
the liberal forms of modern co-perception with low-risk practices are near to realism and they have better results on health issues and behaviors

9. Health promotion Health policy and factors of health promotion
The findings of European data shows a few critical factors:
first, population groups with lower educational level, and groups characterized as vulnerable or high risk
second, individual behavior is a determining factor in shaping the level of health due to the problematic behavior they adopt
third, the behavioral factors such habits, practices, nutrition, physical exercise) on health and the influence of environmental conditions
There are many who claim that the level of health is determined 50% by behavior and 20% by the environment
Health factors attributed to human behavior and the influence of the environment are defined by the EU as “determinants” of disease

10. Factors contributing to health policy
Source: Ifantopoulos G., 2006 p. 179
Political Factors
Institutional Factors
Economic Factors
Social Factors
Strategic sources/ Information
Demographic & social factors
Access to health services
Access to other basic needs
Clinical practice
Health improvement
Analysis of needs/ Demand
Analysis of supply/Health system

11. Factors contributing to health policy
Social factors:
People living under unsuitable conditions, social inequality are at higher risk of developing certain diseases.
the social milieu/environment contributes to the socialization process of the individual, provides experiences and standards, shapes rules of behavior
Cultural factors:
Each culture is characterized by specific behaviors, beliefs and mentalities that formulate common personality characteristics.
the expression of emotions, the form and content of human relationships, habits, the attitude towards life and death

12. Factors contributing to health policy
Institutional factors:
Parental behavior influences the development of the children’s personality causing specific behavioral reactions
Parents function as powerful role models to identify with and tend to reward certain behaviors
Economic factors:
changes in consumer behavior lead to increased food-related infections
urbanization leads to greater poverty in inner city areas, to overcrowded conditions and to a higher risk of infectious diseases

13. Health investment and policies of WHO
The strategic programme of the WHO targets three groups
the generation of knowledge
the enhancement of public health functions
the development of corporate relations between states
The main points of the programme for Health Promotion foresee the following:
Development of state policy that protects health. Health is not the concern of health services only, but of society and its choices as a whole
Creation of a supportive environment. A population’s health depends on its lifestyle. Health promotion aims to develop life and work conditions that are safe, pleasant and creative

14. Health investment and policies of WHO
Activation / mobilisation of community. Participation is the synergy effect for the health promotion and the community training
Development of personal skills by providing support material and education on health promotion
Reorientation of health services. The medical-centred organization must be holistic with focus to the primary interdisciplinary organization of primary health

15. Health education and promotion factors
Source:

16. Thank you for your Attention