Health and health policy are shaped by the political ideology of governments, whether that means more money to invest in health systems or less regulation on health-harming products, Lancet, a peer-reviewed international medical journal, says in its latest comment. 

'Health is political. This is what many practitioners of public and clinical health believe,” argues the comment written by multiple authors. 

The piece, however, adds:  “Health can also cut across political lines because health is a universally shared value. Everyone wants their loved ones to be healthy, so framing societal issues as health issues can draw people from across the political spectrum to advocate for change and policies.”

Citing an example of the climate crisis and gun violence, the authors say that framing climate change in the context of its health implications has helped make it a more accessible and tangible topic to many people. 

“By leveraging health as a common concern, advocates can unite individuals from various backgrounds for a common cause,” the piece says.

“While health has always held large political capital; it offers a topic for politicians to campaign on and set themselves apart from opponents through differentiating policies.  It is because health often affects questions of bodily and individual autonomy,” the piece adds.

However, the authors warn that health is “also vulnerable to weaponisation through the shaping of narratives,” highlighting the urgent need to address the growing prevalence of misinformation.

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