Healthcare; Good Business Bad Medicine

Abstract

Historically, medicine was widely regarded as a sacred calling, a communal duty, or a charitable service to mankind rather than a for-profit industry, often rooted in religious, moral, and social frameworks. Throughout centuries, healthcare focused on compassion, alleviating suffering, and treating the marginalized, particularly during crises like plagues and famines, with the “healing arts” seen as an essential social good. However, over time, economic, political, and technological forces have transformed health into a for-profit industry controlled by corporations, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance systems. This shift has fundamentally altered who has access to healthcare, how illness is defined, and what treatments are prioritized.