Sociology of Health and Medicine

Book Details

• Author: Madhu Nagla

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Binding: Hardcover

• Pages: 532

• ISBN: 9788131609330

• Language: English

• Release Date: 16-04-2018

• Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches

About the Book

This comprehensive volume is designed to address postgraduate students and researchers in the field of sociology of health and medicine. Its content and structure set it apart from traditional textbooks in medical sociology, while maintaining strong connections to the core of general sociology. The central premise of the book is that medicine is a public resource, not the private property of those who practice it, and this idea guides the analysis throughout.

The book covers a wide range of critical themes in the field, including approaches to health care, systems of medicine, the physician-patient relationship, health delivery systems, health inequality, and health ethics. Topics such as reproductive rights, health technology, and health insurance are also examined. The book emphasizes the dilemmas and contradictions in viewing medicine as a public resource, addressing the values, rights, and ethical choices faced by users within the structure of medicine.

The volume incorporates references to current trends and research in the sociology of health and medicine, documenting developments over the past four decades. Designed to expand and deepen understanding, the book serves as an essential framework for further research and exploration into these issues.

The book also examines the social determinants of health, including public health, community health, and medical pluralism in India. Detailed sections cover health delivery systems, rural and urban health care in India, privatization of health care, and the role of NGOs. Furthermore, it delves into health policy, health inequalities, globalization’s impact on health care, and the legal aspects of health rights.

This comprehensive work will be invaluable for sociologists, anthropologists, historians, social workers, legal scholars, health practitioners, and policymakers interested in the intersection of society and medicine. It addresses significant health care challenges and emerging issues in the context of globalization, offering fresh insights into this crucial field.