Economy and Health

Economy and Health

Dicky, Huang Yu Shu

Again, we face the dilemma of economic development and health personal or public. Every country or area around this world can not keep away from the global economy, and the separate economic units start to integrate as one huge unit; one of the hugest units is World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO has different levels for tariffs according the countries’ economy, however, “health” can not be leveled, because human are born to be equal. Article from Chen and Huang[1] lets us know the history clearly, and I also learn something from it.

First, Taiwan experienced from the poor to the rich, so as for the health, and you can find that development of economy is always prior to the concerning of public health, no matter in what countries or industries. Taiwan got the support from United States and Japan after world war two, which has a long time thriving. Nevertheless, businessmen looked only on the money and government care only the export policy. It’s too late to set up environment and worker safety regulations, so there were much people died of chemical hazard. Now, Taiwan has been in the group of developed countries, Taiwanese also have abilities and duty to provide evidence or information for any material which might endanger human beings.

Secondly, social justice will be realized, but it takes time, and we might not have the chance to see it. With the continuous development in the developing or undeveloped countries, every single country will be equipped with complete laws or regulations to avoid the environment getting worse. Before the new laws establishing, scientist and social movement activist should keeping doing their job to dig out and spread the reality. I believe that government is on the same side of the public.

Economy and health should be a dilemma. It is obviously that people who are died can not earn and spend money. Health is supposed to prior to economic development. The developing and undeveloped countries are lucky; they can use our experiences to make their countries better.  

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[1] Meei-shia Chen, PhD, MPH, Chang-Ling Huang, MA. Public Health Then Now-Industrial Workers’ Health and Environmental Pollution under the New International Division of Labor: The Taiwan Experience. American Journal of Public Health. 1997;87;1223-1231