It is argued by some that the best way to address public health problems is to fund the development of new medicines, while others think that encouraging people to live healthier is a better choice. Although having a healthy lifestyle can help citizens avoid being sick, this essay believes that finding a cure is better because substantially fewer resources will be used.
On the one hand, living healthily can prevent illnesses. When individuals exercise or have enough sleep on a daily basis, their immune systems are enhanced significantly, which block harmful viruses and bacteria from entering their bodies, meaning fewer citizens will suffer from diseases. For example, the number of overweight Vietnamese people only accounts for a negligible part of the total population as they often eat herbs and do aerobics. However, this essay argues that there are illnesses that can only be cured through taking medicines.
On the other hand, allocating funds to the development of new treatments can significantly lower the amount of medical resources needed. Through medicines, more diseases, especially deadly ones, can be fully cured, meaning that the healthcare systems do not have to support patients for a long period of time, reducing the demand for medical staff and drugs. For instance, drinking cocktails is now used as a treatment for HIV instead of taking expensive medications, which is a direct result of a huge amount of money being poured into curing this illness. Therefore, it is better to funnel capital into making new medications.
In conclusion, while promoting healthy habits to citizens can decrease their chances of getting sick, making an investment in creating new drugs is the best solution to health issues in society.