Quest for health (a fable)

My paper, in fable form, addresses some of the conditions in the United States and in Canada which reduce the ability of members of the community from making improvements in their health and changes to the health care system. If health is to become a resource for everyday life, a social process is involved which implies the demedicalization of health. To facilitate this process, the power of definition of health cannot be controlled by the medical profession. For what is health is context specific to the individual and to the community. Community participation in all aspects of health care is an essential process to help redefine health. The efforts to reach the target 'Health For all by the Year 2000' will not be successful if research methods, funding and practice are based on the biomedical model alone. By limiting choices open to members of the community on the development of their competence in health care, achievement of 'Health For All' is obstructed.