In the fast evolving era of healthcare, preventive medicine aims to reduce the risks of disease through various primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention measures. It may include various modes like education, screenings, counselling, preventive medication and treatment to reduce the risk of various non communicable diseases.
Even the current studies suggest around 80% of chronic conditions could easily be prevented by adopting the right food habits and healthy lifestyle. Since, 63% of deaths are likely to be caused by chronic diseases, supported by an unhealthy lifestyle.
With the growing emphasis on preventive healthcare, the pharma sector not only is reshaping the way we look at the medicines but also how we incorporate them in everyday life to prevent illness and promote better and long term health.
Through this article we will try to exemplify how the pharmaceutical sector is expanding beyond traditional treatments to focus more on maintaining health and preventing illness.
What is Preventive Healthcare?
Preventive health care is a way that aids to stay healthy by preventing measures, from various diseases and detecting the health problems before they cause any further harm or become difficult to treat.
The importance of preventive healthcare has gained significant attention in recent years, as it is clearly evident that preventing diseases is way more cost effective and health efficient to the individuals than treating conditions once they start causing various health issues.
The Rising Demand for Preventive Healthcare
Global healthcare is now shifting more towards prevention than treatment. It may be due to various reasons including, the rising cost of healthcare, the increasing burden of chronic diseases and aging population. Also, there are numerous deaths reported worldwide by issues like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and cardiac disease.
Additionally, many of these diseases are linked with lifestyle factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, drug abuse and much more. Therefore, it becomes mandatory to access these issues timely and make relevant changes in lifestyle for better management and results.
Pharmaceuticals and Wellness: Bridging the Gap
Pharmaceutical companies, once initially synced with prescribing medications for everything, are now switching towards wellness and preventive healthcare. This sudden shift on preventing diseases than managing diseases is increasing evidently and one trend that is especially visible and gaining popularity are OTC products.
OTC or over the counter medications such as vitamins, minerals, and supplements are designed to support overall health, manage minor health conditions and prevent serious health problems. In relation to this, few vitamins like vitamin D and vitamin C are widely used for their immune-boosting properties, and minerals like calcium and magnesium are important for bone health.
These products not only maintain the normal functioning of the body but also prevent the deficiencies, promoting a better and healthier lifestyle.
We, at GLOBELA Group provide a range of OTC products, including vitamins and minerals to address health in all possible ways including prevention and treatment. GLOBELA is helping to bridge the gap between traditional medicines and wellness by providing a wide range of vitamins and minerals to the consumers to take control of their health using preventive measures to improve their well being.
The Role of Pharmaceuticals in Preventing Chronic Diseases
According to Global Burden of Disease Study age-standardized estimates (2010), nearly a quarter (24.8%) of all deaths in India are attributable to CVD. Also, as per the WHO data chronic diseases account for about 70% of all deaths worldwide, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.
An important concern is that all these diseases often result from a combination of various factors such as genetics, environmental factors, unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary habits.
Here, pharmaceuticals play a very pivot role in preventing and managing these chronic conditions. Since prevention is now the need of the hour, it is becoming more popular among consumers.
In such cases statins (drugs used to lower the cholesterol levels) are prescribed to avoid or prevent the occurrence of heart disease. However, they work better when they are used in combination with lifestyle changes including regular exercise and healthy food choices for better and long term outcomes.
Ways to Promote Preventive Healthcare by Pharmaceutical Industry
There are various ways to promote Preventive healthcare among patients such as:
Educate patients
Educating patients about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and good nutrition can help them to gain the knowledge they need to make their body and mind healthier. By incorporating a culture of wellness, the pharma industry can encourage less incidence of chronic diseases.
Support Lifestyle Changes
Pharma sector can encourage patients to follow a healthy routine that includes good food habits, practicing yoga or exercise, deactivating all addictions that can help them in long run for their longevity.
Make Investment in Research
Pharma companies can collaborate with different health organisations, and policy makers to create awareness and provide better accessibility to care.
Telemedicine
The concept of telemedicine should be encouraged since it helps to expand the accessibility towards healthcare and its services.
Social Media
Social media is one of the easiest and fastest modes to spread or convey any information to the targeted audience. The Pharma sector can use social media as a tool to create awareness and educate people about the importance of preventive healthcare.
A Holistic Approach to Health: Integrating Pharmaceuticals into Wellness
The growing awareness and interest of consumers in wellness and preventive healthcare has shifted the way consumers view their health. The consumers are now so awake and alert that they pay more attention towards their wellness than on medications, and hospitalization.
This proactive approach not only prevents diseases at their initial levels but also prevents the patients from going through the pain the diseases usually bring along.
Pharmaceutical companies are also embracing this terrific shift, understanding the value of offering products that not only are helpful in treating illness but also support longevity of life. It is clearly visible in the market for OTC products which allow individuals to take more interest and hands on approach to their health without any prescription.
Conclusion
The connection between pharmaceutical and wellness is truly inseparable. Curative medicine indeed will always remain a very crucial and mandatory part of healthcare but the prioritization of preventive medicine is imperative. It promotes health, prevents spread of any infectious disease, and also reduces the risk of developing preventable chronic health conditions.
There are numerous technologies including telemedicine, social media etc., that are continuously used to increase the accessibility and adherence to preventive healthcare. Additionally, there remains an urgent need to increase public funding for community-based interventions and other innovative preventive medicine strategies.
As consumers continue to take charge of their health, the pharmaceutical industry will be instrumental in providing the tools and resources needed to maintain well-being and prevent disease.
