The world health organisation needs to reconsider its definition of health

Abstract

The World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" had the merit of widening concepts of health to include psychological and social aspects, but is of no practical use. In fact, this statement more accurately defines happiness than health. These two life experiences are distinct and have no fixed relationship with each other. In addition, it can be argued that health is a right, but no one can guarantee the right of happiness. The consequences of failing to distinguish between health and happiness are that 1) any disturbance to happiness may be viewed as a health problem, 2) the boundless nature of the quest for happiness legitimizes a similar quest for health, 3) regarding health in terms of a universal right presents an underlying prescriptive view of happiness in society, and 4) devoting resources to attempting to achieve the unattainable (happiness for every citizen) will detract from chances to guarantee the gradually attainable achievement of justice and equity in health.