Understanding the Medical Model of Health

Human health has been approached through various concepts all of which aim at promoting health. Among the different approaches used to define and pursue health are the medical model, the environmental model and the holistic/wellness model of health. This paper focuses on the medical model of health which describes health as inexistence of disease in the human body. In this paper, a critical look is given to the medical model of health by looking at some positives such as an increased understanding of disease achieved through this model. Its negatives are also highlighted especially on its failure to conceptualize and address what health really is in a holistic manner thus proving the medical model insufficient.