Sociology of Health and Medicine

Book Details

• Author: Madhu Nagla

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Binding: Paperback

• Pages: 532

• ISBN: 9788131609347

• Language: English

• Release Date: 01-01-2021

• Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches

About the Book

This important work on the sociology of health and medicine is aimed not only at postgraduate students but also at researchers in the field. The book offers a distinctive perspective on medical sociology, maintaining its foundation in general sociology while diverging from traditional medical sociology textbooks. The core theme of the book is the idea that the institutions of medicine are public resources, not private entities.

The content covers a wide spectrum of topics, including health care concepts, systems of medicine, physician-patient relationships, the health delivery system, health inequality, policy, ethics, reproductive rights, environmental health, and the role of health technology and insurance. Each section delves into the different dimensions of health and society, highlighting the contradictions and challenges of viewing medicine as a public resource.

The book also focuses on the values, rights, and ethical dilemmas faced by users of medical systems, with reference to current trends and developments in the field over the last 40 years. Each chapter includes readings that expand on the central themes discussed, offering a thorough examination of issues such as social epidemiology, the promotion of health, health inequalities, and the impact of globalization on health care systems.

By filling a critical gap in the field, this volume provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and expanding the study of health and medicine from a sociological perspective. The book will be invaluable not only to sociologists and anthropologists but also to historians, social workers, health practitioners, legal scholars, and policy makers interested in the intersection of health, society, and policy.

The book also provides extensive insights into the systems of medicine in India, rural and urban health care, health care privatization, and the role of NGOs in health care, making it an essential resource for understanding the complexities of health and medicine in both a local and global context.