Public health must be under public oversight

Every day, dozens of programs with flashy and reliable-looking visuals that harm public health decorate screens and grate on ears in TV programs and various social media tools. Reckless recommendations for drugs or methods are made in many health areas, from intestinal worms to prostate treatment, from constipation to heartburn. The interesting part is that famous people whom the public knows very well also appear, and even take part, in some of these programs, presenting incredible information to the public. Even more interesting is that some of the recommended drugs are not just externally used creams or similar products, but can also be drugs intended for internal use. 

It is also among the frequently seen and heard news that people negatively affected by these drugs have faced serious health risks. Information obtained from the media also includes cases arising from recommendations for certain slimming drugs or drugs that provide weight loss by affecting the appetite. It has even been the subject of media reports that there have been applications to doctors or hospitals due to the negative effects, such as allergies, of some dermatological compositions like externally used creams. 

Now, when we put these two issues side by side, it cannot be claimed that there is any aspect of the matter that can be explained by reason and logic. Well, if one reaches an area that should be navigated with technical knowledge through media reports and proceeds to implementation without having almost any information about what the essence and source of the matter are, and without researching the truth, this should be seen as complete ignorance on the part of the public, and as complete negligence or dereliction of duty on the part of public authorities. One cannot help but ask: Why do major public institutions like the Ministry of Health and medical chambers exist, and what are their duties? 

When some technical personnel, such as doctors, or certain organizations attempt to provide information to the public on the use of medical supplies, whether for money or voluntarily, they are not protecting public health but have instead taken on the role of an enemy against the public. Such behaviors cannot be seen as approved, beneficial activities that are on the side of the public and provide information to the public. Such behaviors are definitely not in favor of the public, but against it. I cannot fathom why public authorities remain silent on this issue and allow the programs to continue. One sometimes cannot help but wonder if some public agents also have a hand in this, one way or another, or even have a vested interest! 

The subject of health is handled and discussed in economic theory as an area of “asymmetric information.” Specifically, both the formation of health problems and treatment methods are areas that require highly complex and intensive technical knowledge. Especially the content of the drugs used and how they should be used for what kind of diseases are also subjects that require technical knowledge. There may be situations where a drug might be useful in a certain condition for a particular disease, while another drug might be good for the same disease in a different condition. Given this, one cannot act with simple logic such as "this drug is used for this disease." Since the public does not have technical knowledge, the solution is the doctor who can analyze the situation well and make the most accurate decision in light of their technical knowledge; the decision-making authority is not TV screens or propaganda broadcasts! 

However, the painful part of the matter is that such broadcasts are made continuously, so much so that we even witness some unpleasant incidents, such as attacks on some doctors in front of the screen. Honestly, when I read about such an event, I could not help but wonder if this was also an advertisement. This is a situation that needs to be thought about at length! 

The general subject of health and the provision of public health is definitely a public area and the duty of the state, because health requires technical knowledge and the general public does not have such knowledge. Therefore, a person who has encountered a health problem is equipped with asymmetric information on this subject and is in a position to act only according to information they will receive from a reliable, licensed person or organization. This is the fundamental condition of public health, and this condition is possible only with the public authority being on the side of the public in a way that protects the public in the area in question. Health is not a subject for advertising; health is certainly not a subject to be gambled with or put in danger. In such a highly technical area, there is no room for advertising or propaganda.

While the ring of fire around us is approaching us; while a fragmented society and political strife are being maintained, perhaps deliberately, despite the necessary internal-front consensus; while inflation has gone off the charts; while the public is divided economically as poor and wealthy, and politically as safe areas and unsafe areas; while there is a government on the political stage that tries to force its dominance over society but cannot be fully capable, and a fragmented and programless opposition that resists this but cannot come together and form a force, what else can be written! 

I wish our valued readers and all our people a happy and peaceful Eid al-Fitr!